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2    I 


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THE  BIRTH  of  AMERICA 


THE   BIRTH 
of  AMERICA 

AN    HISTORICAL    DRAMA 
IN  THREE  ACTS 

BY 

MATTHEW  PAGE  ANDREWS 

A  uthor  of ' 'A merican  History  and  Government,' ' 

''''The  American  s  Creed  and  Its  Meaning,'' 

"A  Heritage  of  Freedom,"  etc. 


BALTIMORE 

THE  NORMAN,  REMINGTON  Co. 
1920 


COPYRIGHT,    1920,    BY    THE    NORMAN,    REMINGTON    CO. 

DRAMATIC    RIGHTS    CONTROLLED 

BY 
MATTHEW     PAGE    ANDREWS 


CAUTION 

Special  notice  should  be  taken  that  it  is  necessary  to 
have  a  valid  contract  for  production  obtained  from  the 
owner  of  the  dramatic  rights  before  The  Birth  of  America 
may  be  publicly  or  privately  produced  by  professionals  or 
amateurs.  This  inhibition  applies  to  "readings,"  tableaux, 
or  anything  of  such  character  approximating  a  performance. 

ACT  OF  CONGRESS,  MARCH  4,  1909: 
SECTION  28 

"That  any  person  who  wilfully  or  for  profit  shall  infringe 
any  copyright  secured  by  this  act,  or  who  shall  knowingly 
and  wilfully  aid  or  abet  such  infringement  shall  be  deemed 
guilty  of  a  misdemeanor,  and  upon  conviction  thereof  shall 
be  punished  by  imprisonment  for  not  exceeding  one  year, 
or  by  a  fine  of  not  less  than  $100  nor  more  than  $1,000,  or 
both,  in  the  discretion  of  the  Court." 


75 

3501 


APOLOGIA 

Having  missed  ancestral  participation   in  the 

earliest  proceedings  of  both  the  first  colonies 
40  through  tardiness  in  the  arrival  of  John  Page 
^  in  the  Virginia  of  the  sixteen-forties,  together 
>:  with  a  like  delinquency  in  the  embarkation  of 
:  John  Andrews  for  Massachusetts  in  the  sixteen- 
-3  fifties,  the  writer  humbly  yields  seniority  to  his 

betters  and  respectfully  dedicates  the  following 
^  lines  to  the  descendants  of  the  courageous  men 
g  and  women  who,  in  the  dawn  of  the  seventeenth 

century,  first  established  the  beginnings  of  "a 

,  new  nation"  under  the  Assembly  at  Jamestown 

'   and  the  Compact  at  Plymouth,  brother  enter- 

g   prises  grounded  on   the  inalienable   rights   of 

man. 

UJ 

r* 

a 


481126 


FOREWORD 

IN  "THE  BIRTH  OF  AMERICA"  the  characters  are 
taken  from  history  and  their  sayings  are  based  on  actual 
events  of  the  day.  In  not  a  few  instances  these  sayings 
are  in  the  exact  words  of  their  utterances  three  hundred 
and  more  years  ago. 

The  verification  of  this  statement  may  be  had 
through  consulting  the  documents  gathered  and  pub 
lished  by  Alexander  Brown  in  his  "Genesis  of  the 
United  States."  In  very  brief  fashion,  also,  these  mat 
ters  are  set  forth  in  the  author's  "A  Heritage  of  Free 
dom"  ;  and  the  reader  may  find  a  fuller  discussion  from 
the  dramatic  and  literary  viewpoint  in  Professor 
Charles  Mills  Gayley's  "Shakespeare  and  the  Foun 
ders  of  Liberty  in  America," — both  the  last-named 
volumes  appearing  from  the  press  almost  simultane 
ously  and  wholly  without  collaboration  on  the  part  of 
their  writers. 

To  the  public,  perhaps,  the  matter  of  the  most  lively 
interest  is  the  appearance  of  Shakespeare  in  the  play 
and  the  evidence  of  his  real  interest  in,  and  intimate 
knowledge  of,  the  first  colonization  in 
Sandys,  America.  It  was  both  natural  and  easy 

Southampton,  for  Shakespeare  to  take  an  interest  in 
and  the  great  enterprise  of  the  London  Com- 

Shakespeare  pany,  the  real  founders  of  the  Plymouth 
settlement  as  well  as  that  at  James 
town.  Among  them  he  counted  many  of  his  best 
patrons,  of  whom  one  was  Henry  Wriothesley,  third 
Earl  of  Southampton,  the  able  and  trusted  associate  of 
Sir  Edwin  Sandys.  To  Southampton,  Shakespeare, 
with  every  evidence  of  admiration  and  affection,  had 
dedicated  his  early  verse. 


HISTORICAL  INTRODUCTION 


From  one  of  these  twain  the  great  dramatist  must 
have  received  in  confidence  certain  details  about  the 
wreck  on  the  Bermudas  of  the  Charter  Ship  of  Gov 
ernor  Gates  and  Admiral  Somers,  of 
Lady  Elizabeth  their  rescue  and  ultimate  arrival  at 
Howard  Jamestown  after  all  had,  for  many 

months,  been  given  up  for  lost. 
These  details  were  contained  in  a  "Letter  to  an  Excel 
lent  Lady,"  which  also  contained  important  and  con 
fidential  information  of  the  state  of  affairs  in  the  first 
colony.  Had  this  letter  reached  the  king  at  that  time, 
it  would  most  likely  have  caused  him  to  assume  abso 
lute  control  of  the  colony.  In  The  Tempest,  Shakes 
peare  uses  a  number  of  expressions  which,  apparently, 
he  could  have  got  from  no  other  source  than  from 
this  letter.  The  letter  was  not  published  until  1625, 
and  The  Tempest  was  first  put  on  the  stage  in  the 
fall  of  1611.* 

The  selection  of  Lady  Elizabeth  Howard  as  the 
"Excellent  Lady,"  to  whom  the  letter  is  addressed,  is 
based  on  the  well-founded  conjecture  of  Professor  Gay- 
ley.  She  was  the  widow  of  one  of  the 
Sir  Francis  founders  of  the  Jamestown  enterprise 
Bacon  and  the  daughter-in-law  of  another. 

Moreover,  she  was  the  near  neighbor  of 
the  writer  of  the  letter,  William  Strachey.  It  was 
most  natural  for  her  to  submit  the  letter  to  Sir  Edwin 
Sandys  or  to  the  Earl  of  Southampton.  Although 
Sandys  planned  and  wrote  the  adroitly  worded  char 
ters  of  Virginia,  which  gradually  led  up  to  the  grant 
of  self-government  to  the  colonists,  the  lawyers  who 


*"The  letter  was  always  in  the  keeping  of  those  vitally 
concerned  until  Purchas  got  hold  of  it.  That  Shakespeare 
was  allowed  to  read  it  and  to  use  certain  of  its  materials 
for  a  play,  as  with  just  discrimination  and  due  discretion 
he  did,  is  illustrative  of  the  closeness  of  his  intimacy  with 
the  patriot  leaders  of  the  Virginia  enterprise." — Gayley: 
Shakespeare  and  the  Founders  of  Liberty  in  America. 


HISTORICAL  INTRODUCTION  xi 

prepared  the  technical  terminology  of  these  documents 
for  the  signature  of  James  I  were  Sir  Francis  Bacon 
and  Sir  Henry  Hobart.f 

The  correspondence  of  Ambassador  Zuniga  and  of 
his  successors,  Velasco  and  Count  Gondomar,  is  full 
of  urgent  appeals  for  the  extermination  of  the  English 

settlement  in  Virginia.  These  emissaries  of 
Spanish  Philip  III  employed  spies  not  only  to  watch 
Plots  the  proceedings  of  the  London  Company  in 

England,  but  to  investigate  the  plans  of  the 
colonists  in  America.  Gondomar,  in  particular,  assured 
James  I  that  Sir  Edwin  Sandys  and  his  associates  of 
the  Virginia  Company  in  London,  were  plotting  to 
overthrow,  in  the  New  World,  at  least,  the  doctrine 
of  the  divine  right  of  Icings,  with  a  view  to  creating 
self-government  by  the  people.  He  warned  James  that 
their  design  was  not  so  much  to  search  for  gold  and  to 
plant  tobacco  as  to  take  away  the  government  from 
the  King  and  place  it  in  the  power  of  the  people.  Re 
ferring  to  Sir  Edwin  Sandys  and  his  patriot  party, 


fMichael  Drayton,  fellow-poet  and  friend  of  Shakespeare, 
inscribed  the  first  verses  dedicated  to  the  English  colonists 
in  America.  These  verses,  possibly  inspired  or  suggested 
by  Southampton,  were  written  in  honor  of  the  departure  of 
the  Sarah  Constant,  the  Goodspeed,  and  the  Discovery,  bear 
ing  the  first  permanent  English  settlers  to  American 
shores. 

You  brave  heroique  minds, 
Worthy  your  countries   name, 
That    honour    still    pursue, 
Goe,   and   subdue, 
Whilst    lovt'ring    hinds 

Lurk  here  at  home  with  shame.    .    .    . 

And    in    regions   farre, 

Such    heroes    bring    yee    foorth 
As  those  from  whom  we  came; 
And    plant   our    name 
Under  that  starre 

Not  knowne  unto  our  north. 


xii  HISTORICAL  INTRODUCTION 

Gondomar  told  the  King,  "That  though  they  might 
have  a  fair  pretence  for  their  meetings,  yet  he  would 
find  in  the  end  that  the  Virginia  Court  in  London 
would  prove  a  seminary  for  a  seditious  Parliament" 

It  is  natural  to  represent  Southampton  in  the  role 
of  sending  a  message  to  Shakespeare;  it  is  natural  for 
him,  as  the  dramatist's  patron,  to  suggest  the  writing 

of  The  Tempest;  and  it  is  equally 
The  Origin  of  natural  for  Sandys  to  suggest  that 
"The  Tempest"  Shakespeare  should  bring  with  him 

"a  new  recruit  for  Virginia."  John 
Jefferson  was  then  probably  planning  for  his  emigra 
tion  to  the  new  settlement,  which  he  undertook  shortly 
thereafter.  It  was  natural,  also,  for  Shakespeare  to 
be  acquainted  with  Lawrence  Washington,  the  "master 
of  Sulgrave  Manor,"  who  was  related  by  marriage 
to  Sandys.  The  romantic  story  of  the  wreck  off  the 
"still-vex't  Bermoothes"  is  historical  and  is  repro 
duced  in  some  detail  in  the  play.  The  imagination  is 
free  to  play  as  it  will  upon  the  significance  of  Shakes 
peare's  conceptions  in  The  Tempest,  both  as  to  char 
acters  and  plot. 

Captain  John  Smith's  part  as  the  officially  licensed 
historian  of  James  I  is  brought  out.  In  his  accounts, 
he  doubtless  satisfied  his  royal  master  by  belittling  the 

character  of  the  patriot  participants 
Smith's  Part  in  in  the  planning  of  political  liberty, 
Beclouding  the  both  in  the  London  Company  and  at 
Early  History  Jamestown.  Nor  did  he  spare  the 
of  America  Pilgrims  in  his  sweeping  depreciation 

of  his  contemporaries.  Because  the 
Pilgrims  refused  his  proffered  guidance,  Smith  wrote 
afterwards  of  them  as  follows:  "Some  hundred  of 
your  Brownists  of  England,  Amsterdam,  and  Leyden, 
went  to  New  Plimouth,  whose  humorous  ignorances 
caused  them,  for  more  than  a  year  to  endure  a  wonder 
ful  deal  of  misery,  with  an  infinite  patience ;  saying  my 


HISTORICAL  INTRODUCTION  xiii 

books  and  maps  were  much  better  cheap  [cheaper] 
than  my  self  to  teach  them.  .  .  .  Such  humorists  will 
never  believe  well,  till  they  be  beaten  with  their  own 
rod."  The  first  colonists  at  Jamestown  have  suffered 
in  historical  repute  and  perspective  for  upwards  of 
three  centuries  because  of  Smith's  misrepresentations, 
and  the  Pilgrims  must  have  shared  their  fate  but  for 
their  good  fortune  in  having,  in  Governor  Bradford, 
so  excellent  an  (uncensored)  historian  of  their  enter 
prise. 

Stephen   Hopkins   affords   a   link   between    Shakes 
peare's  "Bermoothes,"  together  with  the  settlement  at 
James  Towne,  and  the  Pilgrim  emigrants.     It  is  com 
paratively  little  known  that  the 

Stephen  Hopkins        father  of  Oceanus  Hopkins,  born 

and  the  Invitation     on  board  the  Mayflower,  had  sur- 

to  the  Exiles  vived  the  storm  immortalized  by 

Shakespeare    and    had    been    an 

earlier  emigrant  to  the  Virginia  colony.  It  is  interest 
ing,  also,  to  know  of  Sir  Edwin  Sandys'  active  and 
long-continued  efforts  to  "regain"  the  exiles  in  the 
Netherlands  and  secure  for  them  homes  and  religious 
freedom  in  America.  He  began  these  efforts  at  about 
the  time  of  the  opening  of  the  first  Act,  and  persisted 
in  them  to  the  time  he  was  removed  from  control  of 
the  London  Company  by  order  of  the  King. 

In  the  last  two  Acts,  all  the  characters  represented 
are  historical  except  Croatan, — "a  convenient  con 
ceit" — and  Kanawha;  so,  in  effect,  at  least,  are  the 

spoken  parts  and  the  happen- 

Historical  Basis  ings  by  them  brought  out. 

for  the  Jamestown  Many  of  the  phrases  used  are 

and  the  Plymouth  verbatim  reproductions  of 

Scenes  and  Characters  the  original  records  or  of  the 

sayings  of  the  characters  rep 
resented  ;  e.  ff.j  Sandys'  reference  to  government  "by 
consente";  Martin's  speech  about  his  special  rights; 


xiv          HISTORICAL  INTRODUCTION 

the  letter  from  Sir  William  Newce ;  Winslow's  ref 
erence  to  "one  inch  of  hell,"  and  Bradford's  rejoinder 
about  Seneca  and  his  inference  as  to  sea-sickness. 

Even  comparatively  little-known  characters  like  Sec 
retary  Pory  and  Mistress  Cicely  Jordan  are  historical 
figures.  Mistresses  Jordan  and  Madison  figured  in 
the  first  breach  of  promise  suit  brought  up  in  the  New 
World.  Captain  Jordan,  of  "Jordan's  Journey,"  was 
killed  (as  were  most  of  the  characters  represented  in 
Act  II,  Scene  II)  in  the  great  Indian  massacre  follow 
ing  the  building  of  the  "College  at  Henricus," — the 
"killing"  foretold  by  Kanawha  and  the  convert 
Chanco.  Mistress  Cicely  became  thereafter  the  "fas 
cinating  widow"  of  the  colony  and  was  much  sought 
after.  She  ultimately  accepted  the  offer  of  a  pastor  in 
the  colony,  but  "threw  him  over"  for  what  seemed  to 
her  a  more  likely  match.  The  minister  was  not  to  be 
set  aside  so  easily,  however,  and  brought  suit.  Mis 
tress  Madison  was  summoned  as  a  witness  in  the  case. 

In  the  last  Act,  the  scenes  and  characters  are  so 
well  known  in  American  history,  thanks  to  Bradford 
and  other  historians  in  sympathy  with  the  aims  of  the 
New  England  colonists,  that  little  comment  is  needed  ; 
only,  in  this  play,  the  historical  connection  between 
the  Pilgrims  and  the  great  leaders  of  the  Elizabethan 
age  is,  perhaps,  for  the  first  time  portrayed. 

The  idea  of  a  special  drama  to  be  presented  in  con 
nection  with  the  Pilgrim  Tercentenary  was  indirectly 
brought  to  the  attention  of  the  author  by  the  Reverend 
Harold  N.  Arrowsmith.  It  was  modified  and  ex 
panded  in  its  conception  by  reason  of  a  suggestion  of 
President  Frank  J.  Goodnow,  of  the  Johns  Hopkins 
University,  in  order  to  embrace  the  three  hundred  and 
first  anniversary  of  the  Legislative  Assembly  of  Vir 
ginia,  which,  in  1919,  the  nation  had  seemingly  over 
looked.  Cordial  recommendations  for  the  further  ex 
pansion  of  the  play  were  then  made  by  Mrs.  Florence 


HISTORICAL  INTRODUCTION  xv 

Lewis  Speare,  charter  member  of  the  "47  Workshop" 
Theatre  of  Harvard  University,  by  whom  it  was  sub 
sequently  arranged  for  the  stage  and  produced.  The 
author  would  also  express  appreciation  for  the  read 
ings  of  Dr.  James  W.  Bright,  Professor  of  English 
Literature;  of  Dean  John  H.  Latane,  Professor  of 
American  History  at  the  Johns  Hopkins  University; 
and  of  the  generous  approval  of  Julian  Street,  play 
wright  and  author. 

M.  P.  A. 


DRAMATIS    PERSONAE 

ACT  I 

SIR  EDWIN  SANDYS, 

Leading  Founder  of  Liberty  in  America 
HENRY  WRIOTHESLEY,  EARL  OF  SOUTHAMPTON, 

Associate  of  Sandys  and  early  patron  of  Shakespeare 
SIR  FRANCIS  BACON, 
Counsel  at  Court  in  preparing  the  colonial  charters  for 

the  signature  of  the  King 
WILLIAM  SHAKESPEARE 

JOHN  JEFFERSON Ancestor  of  Thomas  Jefferson 

STEPHEN  HOPKINS, 

Survivor  of  the  Tempest,  sojourner  at  Jamestown,  and 

subsequently  father  of  Oceanus  Hopkins, 

born  on  board  the  ''Mayflower" 

LADY  SANDYS J^ife  to  Sir  Edwin 

LADY  ELIZABETH  HOWARD, 

Widow  of  Theophilus  Howard 

JANE  BURRAS Maid  to  Lady  Sandys 

MANSERVANT 

ACT  II— SCENE  I 

CHANCO Indian  convert  in  Virginia 

POWH ATAN Indian  chief 

OPECHANCANOUGH Brother  to  Powhatan 

CROATAN Old  Indian  woman 

KANAWHA Indian  maiden 

OTHER  INDIANS:  warriors  and  women 


THE  BIRTH  OF  AMERICA 


SCENE  II 

CAPTAIN  WILLIAM  POWELL First  settler 

CAPTAIN  FRANCIS  WEST, 

First  settler  and  son  to  Lord  De  La  Warr 
CAPTAIN  SAMUEL  JORDAN,  of  "Jordan's  Journey" 
ISAAC  MADISON 
JOHN  JEFFERSON 
REV.  RICHARD  BUCK 
JOHN  PORY, 

Secretary-Speaker  of  the  House  of  Burgesses,  former 
member  of  Parliament  from  Bridgewater, 

England 
JOHN  ROLFE 
NATHANIEL  POWELL 

ENSIGN  ROSSINGH AM. Nephew  to  Governor  Yeardley 
CAPTAIN  JOHN  MARTIN 

PATRICK  GOOKIN    Soldier 

CHANCO,  with  other  Indian  converts 
MISTRESS  CICELY  JORDAN  . .  .  Wife  to  Samuel  Jordan 
MISTRESS  MARY  MADISON  .   Wife  to  Isaac  Madison 
INDIAN  IN  BACKGROUND 

ACT  III 

WILLIAM  BRADFORD Historian  of  the  Pilgrims 

JOHN  CARVER First  Governor  of  the  Pilgrims 

JOHN  ALDEN 
EDWARD  WINSLOW 
CAPTAIN  MILES  STANDISH 

WILLIAM  BREWSTER Spiritual  leader 

STEPHEN  HOPKINS 

MISTRESS  BRADFORD Wife  to  William  Bradford 

MISTRESS  ELIZABETH  HOPKINS, 

Wife  to  Stephen  Hopkins 
PRISCILLA  MULLENS 
OTHER  PILGRIMS,  both  men  and  women 


PROLOGUE 

Proclaimed  by  Clio,  Muse  of  History,  or  by  a 
"Herald" 

(Spoken  slowly,  intensively) 

Alexander  conquered  his  little  world,  and 
died,  and  left  us  a  pretty  story. 

Caesar  won  a  larger  world,  and,  dying,  left 
a  longer  story,  with  thoughts  of  imperial 
power. 

Lastly,  Napoleon  overran  many  lands  and 
threatened  the  Earth.  But  the  Empire  of 
Napoleon  fell  in  pieces  ere  himself  was  dead. 

These  three.  Theirs  was  a  kingdom  of  the 
flesh;  and,  like  all  flesh,  it  ran  its  span  and 
perished. 

Hereupon,  we  purpose  setting  forth  the 
greater  triumph  of  one  who,  on  a  firm  and 
final  foundation,  built  a  KINGDOM  OF  THE 
MIND. 

His  is  the  immortal  soul  to  establish  the 
immortal  principle  that  self-government  may 


THE  BIRTH  OF  AMERICA 


be  added  to  self-control,  and  with  it  man's  right 
to  life,  liberty,  and  freedom  of  conscience. 

Confronted  and  hedged  about  in  the  Old 
World  by  the  "divine  right  of  kings,"  this 
Prophet  of  Progress  planned  for  the  New 
World  the  Ideal  of  a  "free  popular  State," 
whose  inhabitants  should  have  "no  Govern 
ment  putt  upon  them  except  by  their  own  con 
sented 

This  Ideal  has  spread  from  a  single  settle 
ment  to  many  States.  The  many  are  merged 
in  one,  and  popular  government  is  extended 
from  sea  to  sea. 

Its  appeal  has  caught  the  imagination  of  mil 
lions  in  the  older  nations  and  its  spirit  is  spread 
ing  over  the  Earth. 

Under  its  banner,  freedom  and  liberty  go 
marching  on — and  the  end  is  not  yet. 

Behold,  then,  the  portrayal  of  the  beginnings 
of  this  New  Order: 

THE  FOUNDING  OF  LIBERTY  IN  AMERICA 
under  the  guiding  hand  of  EDWIN  SANDYS, 
patriot,  scholar,  philosopher,  statesman,  sage, 
and  friend  of  man. 


THE  BIRTH  of  AMERICA 


ACT  I 

SCENE  I 

Drawing  room  in  the  London  house  of  Sir 
Edwin  Sandys,  Founder  of  Liberty  in  America. 
Time:  Morning  in  September,  1610,  subse 
quently  to  the  receipt  of  news  from  Virginia 
that  the  Charter  Ship,  the  "Sea-Venture"  with 
Governor  Sir  Thomas  Gates  and  Admiral 
Somers,  had  been  wrecked  of  the  Bermudas, 
but  that  "all  hands"  had  survived  the  storm 
and  had  arrived,  "after  many  months,"  at 
James  Towne. 

Curtain  rises  upon  Lady  Sandys  and  her 
friend,  Elizabeth  Howard  (daughter  of  George 
Hume,  Earl  of  Dunbar,  and  widow  of  Baron 
Theophilus  Howard,  of  Essex,  who,  with  his 
father,  Thomas,  Earl  of  Suffolk,  was  a  liberal 
subscriber  to  the  colonial  enterprise};  also, 
Jane  Burr  as,  maid  to  Lady  Sandys  and  sister 


THE  BIRTH  OF  AMERICA 


of  Anne  Burras  Laydon,  who,  as  maid  to  Mrs. 
Forest,  was  the  first  Englishwoman  married  in 
America  and  the  mother  of  Virginia  Laydon, 
the  first  child  born  at  Jamestown.  Windows 
are  open.  From  east  window  an  arch  may  be 
seen  with  inscription  thereon.  Within,  table 
and  writing  desk;  shelves  of  books;  a  few  large 
pictures,  among  which  is  a  recently  done  por 
trait  of  the  master  of  the  house.  The  ladies 
are  evidently  expecting  visitors  and  are  inter 
ested  in  overseeing  the  last  touches  put  on  the 

table,  desk,  etc.,  with  which  the  maid  is  busying 
herself. 

Jane:  Anst  ye  talk  of  what  America  will  be, 
how  do  the  people  fare  with  wild  beasts,  wild 
woods,  and  wilder  salvages? 

Lady  Sandys:  They  are  brave  men  that  dare 
a  thousand  leagues  of  sea  and  the  red  and 
bloody-minded  Indians ! 

Lady  Howard:  And  even  braver  women! 
Wouldst  thou  hazard  this  adventure,  Jane? 

Jane:  My  sister  has  ventured  it,  ma'am. 

Lady  Howard:  'Tis  said  that  scarce  had  Mis 
tress  Forest  stepped  ashore,  when  she  lost  her 
maid,  thy  sister,  to  worthy  John  Laydon. 

Lady  Sandys:  Ay,  if  the  whole  story  be  told, 
she  chose  him  from  no  less  than  seven  suitors ! 


THE  BIRTH  OF  AMERICA 


Jane:  One  don't  often  see  the  likes  o'  that 
in  Old  England,  ma'am! 

Lady  Howard:  (Musingly)  'Tis  said  that 
single  men  are  very  lonely  over  there.  (Pause) 
For  aught  we  know  about  the  rest,  six  suitors 
may  yet  be  single.  (To  Lady  Sandys)  Sir  Ed 
win  has  urged  others  to  encourage  women  set 
tlers.  His  good  preachings  may  be  put  in  prac 
tice  here  at  home ! 

Jane:  (To  Lady  Sandys)  I'd  venture  the 
v'yage  with  but  'alf  a  chance,  ma'am.  I'm  sure, 
ma'am,  my  sister  would  give  me  a  home  and 
welcome.  I  could  work  in  service  for  my  pass 
age  over. 

Lady  Howard:  — Virginia  Laydon,  the  first 
child  born  of  English  parentage  at  James 
Towne — may  she  live  long  and  happily ! 

Jane:  (To  Lady  Sandys) — An'  then,  I'd 
want  to  save  the  little  darlin'  from  those  seal- 
pin'  salvages.  She  is  nigh  one  year  old,  ma'am. 
(Starts  to  go.) 

Lady  Sandys:  But  stop  a  moment.  Have  you 
not  heard  that  there  are  scores  of  Indian  women 
in  America  to  be  had  for  the  asking? 

Jane:  Have  no  fear  of  thim,  ma'am,  with 
their  haythen  paint  and  feathers.  My  brother 
William,  than  whom  there  be  no  bolder  sailor, 


8  THE  BIRTH  OF  AMERICA 

says  the  Spaniard  may  have  them ;  but  an  Eng 
lishman, — be  he  Celt  or  Saxon,  holds  true  to 
race  and  lineage.  (Exit.) 

Lady  Howard:  Canst  thou  not  picture  this 
land  of  wonders — and  the  "new  nation"  fore 
told  by  gallant  Raleigh?  Jane  is  right  about 
our  race  and  people.  'Tis  born  in  the  blood. 
But  we  must  make  Christians  of  these  salvages. 

Lady  Sandys:  That  is  a  chief est  part  of  our 
purpose.  Great  things  are  astir  in  these  our 
days. 

Lady  Howard:  Yes,  and  great  men.  (Stand 
ing  before  it,  she  gazes  at  Sir  Edwin's  portrait.) 
My  noble  husband  oft  has  told  me  that  in  Sir 
Edwin  England  held  the  master  statesman  of 
our  age  and  times — a  prophet  and  builder  of 
a  new  order. 

Lady  Sandys :  ( Goes  over  and  gratefully  em 
braces  LADY  HOWARD)  My  instincts  have  ever 
made  me  know  that  my  husband  is  great  among 
men;  yet, — it  gives  me  joy  to  hear  from  the 
mouths  of  others  what  I  have  always  felt  is  true. 
Thy  husband  was  most  generous  in  this  Vir 
ginia  enterprise.  So  was  his  noble  father,  the 
Earl  of  Suffolk. 

Lady  Howard:  The  patriot  adventurers  of 
our  London  Company  have  suffered  three  long 


THE  BIRTH  OF  AMERICA 


years  of  steady  loss  in  the  Virginia  enterprise — 
enough  and  more  to  break  the  will  of  lesser 
souls. 

Lady  Sandys:  And  we  are  like  to  suffer  even 
greater  losses  for  thrice  as  long.  Those4  who 
know  our  higher  purpose  look  for  no  sordid 
gains  from  this  great  emprise. 

Lady  Howard:  (With  intense  fervor  of  con 
viction)  When  lesser  souls  have  faltered,  Sir 
Edwin  has  been  a  constant  star  to  guide  and 
cheer.  I  know  that  he  has  hid  his  fears  for  our 
daring  venture — fear  of  devastating  disease 
in  fever-stricken  James  Towne;  fear  of  the 
interference  of  the  King;  fear  of  the  news,  with 
every  boat,  of  fatal  Indian  stratagem  or  massa 
cre;  fear  of  Spanish  spies,  and  traitors  here, — 
nay,  fear  of  fear  itself  with  Englishmen  at 
home.  In  very  truth,  thy  husband  has  borne  a 
front  unflinching  'gainst  the  well-considered  loss 
of  everything  that  man  holds  dear — the  loss  of 
home  and  of  fortune,  by  confiscation  of  the 
King;  the  loss  of  his  proper  liberty;  and  of  life 
itself.  Brute  courage  is  a  common  attribute. 
With  that  men  are  endowed  as  if  by  nature;  so 
the  lower  animals;  but  faith,  with  the  courage 
to  endure  such  things  as  these,  is  granted  to 
but  few.  Founded  on  right,  'tis  the  calm 


io  THE  BIRTH  OF  AMERICA 

courage  of  firm  resolve  when  others  doubt, 
and  the  courage  to  bear  an  equal  mien  in 
Triumph  or  Disaster.  Sir  Edwin  is  a  noble 
man  who  walks  with  kings,  nor  loses  sight  and 
touch  with  common  men.  In  him  is  an  union 
of  all  that's  fine  and  free  in  our  blood  of  inter 
mingled  Celt  and  Saxon. 

Lady  Sandys:  (Plainly  thrilled  by  the  exalted 
fervor  of  Lady  Howard)  Elizabeth,  thou  art 
a  true  daughter  of  Hume  and  Howard;  thy 
speech  breathes  the  spirit  of  thy  generous 
Theophilus,  and  thy  thoughts  are  inspired  by  a 
constant  contemplation  of  a  noble  purpose. 
Reflected  in  thee  are  the  hopes  and  fears  of  the 
greatest  enterprise  ere  planned  to  benefit  ages 
still  to  come, — and  nations  yet  to  be. 

Lady  Howard:  I  know  thou  hast  Sir  Edwin's 
amplest  confidence.  He  has  told  thee  of  my 
letter  from  Virginia 

Lady  Sandys: — Addressed  to  "An  Excel 
lent  Lady"  by  thy  former  neighbor,  Master 
William  Strachey? 

Lady  Howard:  Yes,  and  now  thou  knowest 
chat  which,  if  further  carried,  would  change  the 
course  of  history  and  give  us  over  to  the  power 
cf  Spain. 

Lady  Sandys:  And  are  there  not  women  in 


THE  BIRTH  OF  AMERICA  1 1 

the  world  with  whom  secrets,  are  as  safe   as 
with  any  man? 

Lady  Howard:  Where  they  touch  home  and 
hearth,  husband  and  children. — Thine  own 
house  is  not  safe.  When  others  have  kept  their 
peace  thy  husband  has  freely  spoke  his  mind  in 
Parliament  concerning  the  threatened  rights  of 
Englishmen. 

Lady  Sandys:  Have  kept  their  peace,  or 
worse ! 

Lady  Howard:  I  know  it.  Had  I,  too,  not 
been  counted  worthy  of  my  husband's  confi 
dence,  the  main  hope  of  the  Virginia  enterprise 
would  even  now  be  snuffed  out  like  a  candle 

Lady  Sandys: — I  long  to  hear!  I  knew 
something  of  moment  brought  thee  here  from 
thy  sweet  Essex  downs. 

Lady  Howard:  But  recently  I  was  honored 
by  a  visit  from  Lady  Zuniga,  wife  of  his  Ex 
cellency,  the  Ambassador  of  Spain,  who  thought 
that  by  some  chance 

Lady  Sandys: — She  would  happen  there 
upon  letters  from  Virginia? 

Lady  Howard:  Thou  hast  said  it — but,  con 
trariwise,  thy  innocent  Elizabeth,  upon  return 
ing  the  gracious  visit  of  her  Ladyship,  guile- 


12  THE  BIRTH  OF  AMERICA 

lessly  happened  upon  a  plan  the  Spaniards  have 
devised  for  spying  out  the  colony. 

Lady  Sandys:  And  what  else?  thou  innocent 
child!  kinswoman  of  that  Howard  of  Effing- 
ham  who  smote  the  Great  Armada  I 

Lady  Howard:  Oh,  I  told  her  ladyship  many 
things. 

Lady  Sandys:  Many  things  about  the  colony? 

Lady  Howard:  Many  things  from  a  simple 
Englishwoman,  which  I  wot  not  will  much  de 
ceive  His  Majesty  of  Spain  should  they  reach 
his  earl 

(Enter  Jane) 

Jane:  The  master  has  come  and  with  him  are 
two  gentlemen.  (Exit.) 

Lady  Sandys:  (To  Lady  Howard) — The 
Earl  of  Southampton  and  Sir  Francis  Bacon. 

Lady  Howard:  Should  the  mantle  of  thy 
prophet-husband  fall  upon  another,  I  pray  it 
will  be  the  Earl. 

Lady  Sandys:  And  my  Lord  Bacon? 

Lady  Howard:  Oh,  he  is  a  courtier  first  and 
a  patriot  whilst  'tis  safe. 

(Enter  Sandys,  Bacon,  and  Henry 
Wriotheslfy,  Earl  of  Southamp 
ton,  friend  and  early  patron  of 
Shakespeare) 


THE  BIRTH  OF  AMERICA  13 

Lady  Sandys:  (To  Bacon  and  Southampton) 
You  are  welcome. 

Bacon:  The  fame  of  thy  hospitality  has 
spread  abroad  and  there  gather  here  the  choic 
est  spirits  of  these  times. 

Lady  Sandys:  I  but  do  my  little  part  to  help 
on  a  new  age.  My  house  is  honored  by  their 
presence.  I  know  but  little  of  the  problems  of 
State.  With  them  I  dare  not  meddle,  but  every 
woman  knows  that  a  new  Britannia  is  being 
born  across  the  seas. 

Sandys:  My  love,  the  Earl  (turning  to  South 
ampton)  has  sent  word  to  Master  William 
Shakespeare  to  join  us  here  to-day;  whilst  I,  in 
turn,  have  expressed  the  hope  that  he  bring  at 
least  one  new  recruit  for  America. 

Lady  Howard:  The  stirring  verse  of 
Michael  Drayton  still  echoes  through  the  land. 

Lady  Sandys:  We'll  leave  them  to  their  de 
liberations.  (To  Lady  Howard)  Come,  let  me 
show  thee  my  wonderful  fowl  from  America. 
All  England  will  some  day  be  smoking  our  Vir 
ginia  weed  and  feasting  upon  these  new  birds. 
Save  Her  Majesty,  the  Queen,  I  am  the  first 
woman  in  England  to  have  served  a  turkey.  I 
shall  be  the  first  to  breed  them  here. 


14  THE  BIRTH  OF  AMERICA 

(Exeunt  Lady  Sandys  and  Lady  Howard 
at  right.  Enter  William  Shakespeare 
and  John  Jefferson, — ancestor  of 
Thomas  Jefferson — at  left}. 

Sandys:  Welcome,  Master  Shakespeare  and 
Master  Jefferson. 

Southampton:  (To  Shakespeare}  Thrice 
welcome,  thou  master  player.  What  fresh 
characters  hast  thou  conjured  back  to  earth  of 
late? 

Shakespeare:  Many  thanks  for  thy  greeting, 
my  Lord.  "Master  Shakespeare"  I  owe  by  our 
good  English  right  and  custom.  "Master  play 
er,"  if  I  be  one,  /  owe  wholly  to  thy  earliest  aid 
and  patronage. 

Southampton:  I  count  it  an  high  honor  that 
thy  verse  should  be  dedicate  to  me.  Thy  genius 
is  thine  own  and  I, — I  but  subscribed  to  the 
means  that  set  it  forth. 

Shakespeare:  My  Lords,  what  news  have  you 
from  Virginia?  There  are  as  many  rumors  on 
the  street  as  there  are  sailors  in  London  town. 

Southampton:  In  part,  the  news  is  wonderful. 

Sandys:  Far  better  than  we  had  hoped  for. 

Bacon:  The  Charter  is  safe  at  James  Towne 
and  those  aboard  the  Sea-denture^  who  for 


THE  BIRTH  OF  AMERICA 


twelve  months  and  more  we  in  England  had 
given  up  for  lost ! 

Jefferson:  Admiral  Somers,  Governor  Gates, 
and  all  their  gallant  company? 

Southampton:  All's  well  that  ends  well.  They 
are  safe. 

Shakespeare:  And  their  good  ship,  the  Sea- 
denture? 

Southampton:  The  mighty  tempest  of  last 
June  a  year  tossed  the  Venture  on  an  island  of 
the  New  Indies. 

Sandys:  "Bermoothes,"  as  the  sailors  call  it. 
When  the  ship  struck  its  rockbound  coast,  all 
hands  were  scattered  in  the  terrible  darkness 
of  the  storm.  Each  group  thought  their  fellows 
drowned  and  bewailed  their  loss  'til  chance 
wandering  brought  them  together  with  every 
soul  on  board  saved  from  the  waves. 

Jefferson:  The  sailors  say  that  there  has  been 
no  fiercer  storm  at  sea  than  this;  that  strange 
lights  flashed  from  mast  to  mast  and  spirits 
talked  of  thrall  and  free. 

Sandys:  The  storm  was  truly  dreadful,  but 
now  a  good  Providence  has  become,  in  the 
tongue  of  the  sailors,  witchcraft,  magic,  sor 
cery! 

Southampton:  A  fitting  subject  for  Master 


1 6  THE  BIRTH  OF  AMERICA 

Shakespeare, — a  miraculous  rescue  from  the 
vasty  deep, — a  smack  and  touch  of  good  and 
evil  spirits,  witchcraft  and  the  like,  fit  to  stir 
the  fancies  of  men. 

Shakespeare:  (Aside}  A  tempest, — the 
Charter  ship  wrecked  on  strange  island  shores, 
— the  crew  lost  and  found  again.  Miraculous 
indeed!  (Aloud]  How  came  at  last  the  Gover 
nor  and  his  following  to  Virginia  ? 

Sandys:  No  whit  disheartened,  my  Lord  Ad 
miral  caused  to  be  built  two  ships  of  cedar 
wood,  naming  them  the  Patience  and  the  Deliv 
erance,  and  after  eleven  months  all  arrived 
safe  at  James  Towne. 

Bacon:  The  loss  of  the  Charter  would  have 
been  more  grievous  than  the  loss  of  the  ship  and 
settlers.  We  may  not  have  got  another  such 
signature  from  His  Majesty;  but  our  good 
friend  Jefferson,  and  many  other  such  daring 
Englishmen  do  freely  offer  themselves  a  new 
supply  on  behalf  of  our  GREAT  EXPERIMENT. 

Jefferson:  I  am  much  in  spirit  by  reason  of 
these  glad  tidings.  So  soon  as  I  set  my  affairs 
in  order,  I  shall  turn  my  face  towards  this  brave 
New  World.  It  is  whispered  by  those  who  live 
under  the  shadow  of  a  despot  here  that  in  this 
new  land  men  really  shall  be  free. 


THE  BIRTH  OF  AMERICA  17 

Sandys:  'Tis  a  good  thought;  but  we  must 
keep  our  hopes  and  fears  within  our  inmost 
circle.  Captain  Bargrave  (whom  I  have  since 
had  cause  to  mistrust)  heard  me  say  that  we  are 
setting  up  in  Virginia  a  free  popular  State, 
whose  inhabitants  shall  have  no  government  put 
upon  them  except  by  their  own  consent.  This, 
our  highest  aim,  must  be  hid  from  His  Majesty. 
We  must  prate  to  him  of  large  returns  from 
gold  and  silver  mines, —  (pause)  which  are 
not!  (Laughter) 

Southampton:  Captain  Smith  helped  us  to  a 
shiphold  of  shining  ore — "fool's  gold," — it  was 
a  great  blow  to  His  Majesty! 

Sandys:  Not  to  say  others  who  had  in  sight 
easy  gains  without  expense  !  (Laughter) 

Bacon:  The  recent  Charter,  giving  powers  of 
government  to  the  London  Company,  points 
the  way  to  political  liberty;  but  His  Majesty 
sees  it  not  as  yet,  though  the  Spanish  minister 
and  his  spies  have  hinted  darkly  of  plots  and 
treasons  afloat  against  the  divine  right  of  kings. 

Sandys:  (Addressing  all)  We  are  much  in 
debt  to  the  skill  of  Sir  Francis  in  making  our 
Charter  ready  for  the  signature  of  the  King. 

Bacon:  Thou  mayst  now  draw  up  another 
such  Charter  to  include  the  still  vexed  Ber- 


1 8  THE  BIRTH  OF  AMERICA 

moothes.  In't  we'll  loudly  laud  His  Majesty, 
but  withal  draw  a  second  stroke  to  secure  the 
rights  of  fellow-countrymen  transplanted  on 
this  new  and  virgin  soil. 

Sandys:  If  the  truth  be  told,  a  year  ago  Cap 
tain  Gabriel  Archer  called  for  a  Parliament  in 
Virginia  to  protest  the  sovereign  rule  of  Cap 
tain  Smith. 

Jefferson:  Captain  Archer  died  in  the  serv 
ice  of  the  settlement  and  merits  praise  from  us 
in  that  he,  with  Captains  Martin  and  Percy, 
are  abused  to  the  King  by  Smith  and  other  min 
ions  of  His  Majesty. 

Sandys:  True,  Captain  Martin  is  our  most 
successful  settler.  In  command  of  the  Benja 
min,  he  sailed  the  seas  with  Drake  and  rescued 
Raleigh's  ill-timed  colony  at  Roanoke. 

Southampton:  And  the  noble  Percy,  the  brave 
young  brother  of  Northumberland.  What  did 
the  bold  but  boastful  Smith  call  these  three? 

Sandys:  "Tiffity-taffety  ne'er-do-wells!" 

(Exclamations   of  disapproval   or   dis 
gust  from  all] 

Shakespeare:  (Aside)  "The  still  vexed  Ber- 
moothes" — the  spirit  of  liberty.  'Tis  worth  a 
play,  even  if  it  be  a  play  on  words, — an'  'twill 
please  my  Lord  and  noble  patron.  (Aloud  to 


THE  BIRTH  OF  AMERICA  19 

Southampton)  My  Lord,  the  story  of  this  tem 
pest  enthralls  my  fancies.  The  wreck  of  the  Sea- 
denture  and  the  building  of  the  Deliverance. 
I'll  create  a  new  character  whom  I'll  call  MI 
RANDA.  She  shall  symbolize  AMERICA,  and  in 
her  I'll  portray  my  perfect  woman,  unspoiled 
by  social  arts  or  stratagem. 

Southampton:  Set  forth  thy  play,  Master 
Shakespeare,  so  that  new  emigrants  may  be  em 
boldened  to  join  those  already  gone.  I  would 
recall  the  lines  indited  by  thy  friend  and  fellow- 
player,  Michael  Drayton,  writ  in  celebration  of 
the  first  ships  sailing  for  America 

Sandys:  The  Sarah  Constant,  the  Good- 
speed,  and  the  Discovery,  three  years  since  this 
next  December. 

Shakespeare:  My  Lord,  he  spoke  of  "brave 
heroique  minds,"  adjuring  them  "in  regions 
farre,  such  heroes  bring  yee  foorth  as  those 
from  whom  we  came."  (Rises  to  go.} 

Sandys:  But  see,  my  good  Shakespeare,  see 
that  in  thy  play  thou  dost  not  make  our  purpose 
plain  to  stir  His  Majesty's  jealous  fears  for 
royal  prerogative.  The  land  is  full  of  Philip's 
Spanish  spies,  and  they  have  the  ear  of  the 
King. 

Southampton:     Sandys  is  right.     Set  up  a 


20  THE  BIRTH  OF  AMERICA 

parable.  Be  not  too  fast  in  putting  forth  our 
prime  conceits  in  this  affair,  or  all  will  yet  be 
lost.  The  hope  of  liberty  hangs  upon  a  thread. 

Shakespeare:  (Aside]  "A  free  popular 
State."  I  mistrust  that  phrase.  The  people 
may  get  overset  with  liberty — vacantly  crying 
hey-day,  freedom !  freedom,  hey-day ! 

Sandys:  Read  this  in  strictest  confidence, 
Master  Shakespeare.  (Hands  him  MS.)  In 
these  private  letters,  Secretary  Strachey  tells 
the  story  of  the  shipwreck  and  the  intimate  state 
at  James  Towne.  Were  this  to  reach  the  ears 
of  the  King,  he  would  seize  the  reins  of  abso 
lute  control,  mark  us  for  failure,  and  justify  his 
act. 

Southampton:  At  James  Towne,  affairs 
were  critical,  but  De  La  Warr  has  saved  the 
day.  In  due  time,  these  brave  Englishmen  will 
manage  their  own  affairs.  Once  that  is  done — 
English  liberty  never  goes  backward,  and  the 
will  of  kings  must  bend  before  it.  With  us, 
this  Scottish  monarch  has  overrid  our  Magna 
Charta.  But  in  America — (Pause)  'Tis  not 
so  easy  to  reach  a  thousand  leagues  across  the 
seas ! 

(Pause} 

Shakespeare:     My  Lord,  to-day  I  dine  with 


THE  BIRTH  OF  AMERICA  21 

the  Master  of  Sulgrave  Manor.  Have  I  per 
mission  to  acquaint  him  with  the  general  nature 
of  the  news  from  Virginia? 

Sandys:  I'll  vouch  for  Master  Lawrence 
Washington.  My  nephew  Robert  has  won  the 
hand  of  his  sister,  Alice. 

Exeunt  SHAKESPEARE  and  JEFFER 
SON. 

Sandys:  (Returning  across  room  from  a 
private  desk}  On  behalf  of  our  party  in  the 
London  Company  I  have  to-day  writ  further 
advices  to  certain  self-exiled  Englishmen  in  the 
Netherlands,  inviting  them  to  leave  alien  lands 
and  join  with  our  own  stock  in  Virginia. 

Southampton:  Thy  purpose  has  been  dis 
cussed  before.  England's  loss  in  these  sturdy 
souls  is  Holland's  gain.  The  times  are  out  of 
joint,  but  are  not  proper  for  revolution.  'Tis 
best  to  bear  awhile  with  ills  we  have  than  fly 
to  those  unknown. 

Sandys:  Our  plan  points  the  way  to  regain 
these  Englishmen  and  secure  for  them  religious 
freedom,  as  we  have  sought  political  liberty  at 
James  Towne.  I  have  proposed  to  them  a 
scheme  for  self-government  and  hope  to  secure 
a  charter  from  the  King. 

Southampton:     But  will  this  not  arouse  the 


22  THE  BIRTH  OF  AMERICA 

jealousy  of  His  Majesty  and  put  in  jeopardy 
all  our  plans? 

Bacon:  (With  a  show  of  impatience  at  this 
new  turn  of  affairs)  His  Majesty  may  let  these 
Brownists  go,  but  'tis  certain  he'll  deny  their 
charter.  I  must  be  going  on  affairs  of  moment. 
I  attend  His  Majesty's  court  at  noon  to-day. 
(Exit.} 

Sandys:  We  risk  much  in  this  offer  to  the 
dissenting  exiles,  but  the  game  is  worth  the  can 
dle.  My  brother,  Samuel,  lessee  of  Scrooby 
Manor,  knows  these  men  of  Scrooby  well.  For 
William  Brewster  he  has  a  most  particular 
esteem.  Our  friends  at  Court  will  persuade  His 
Majesty  and  secure  his  consent. 

Southampton:  Dost  thou  expect  the  King's 
consent  for  these  dissenters  'gainst  whom  His 
Majesty  has  sworn  all  temporal  enmity  in  the 
hope  of  winning  eternal  reward? 

Sandys:  His  Majesty  may  be  reached  in 
divers  ways.  (Aside  to  SOUTHAMPTON.) 

Southampton:  (Aloud)  Marvelous!  A 
haven  in  America  for  the  harried  of  Church 
and  State.  Will  wonders  never  cease  !  Sandys, 
thou  art  the  master  of  magic,  Prospero,  of 
whom  Shakespeare  muttered  when  thou  didst 
speak  of  witchcraft,  sorcery,  and  the  like. 


THE  BIRTH  OF  AMERICA  23 

Thine  is  the  political  magic  that  must  create  a 
new  order. 

(Manservant   announces   'visitor.) 
(Enter  STEPHEN  HOPKINS.) 

Sandys:  Here's  Master  Stephen  Hopkins — 
all  at  once  a  survivor  of  the  tempest,  a  mes 
senger  from  Virginia,  and  a  friend  to  Master 
Brewster. 

Hopkins:  My  Lords,  I  am  returned  from 
Virginia,  not  because  of  sufferings  there  nor 
fear  of  the  fevers  which  cramp  the  settlers  in 
the  lowlands  of  the  coast.  Rather  do  I  see 
Opportunity  in  America  and  would  carry  news 
and  fresh  hope  to  my  fellow-countrymen  in  the 
Netherlands. 

Southampton:  Didst  thou  not  in  an  excess 
of  zeal  incite  revolution  in  Bermuda? 

Hopkins:  True,  my  Lord,  but  the  sincerity 
of  my  purpose  and  the  frank  confession  of  my 
error  won  for  me  the  intercession  of  both  the 
Admiral  and  the  Governor  and  procured  me  not 
mere  pardon  but  their  good  will  and  favor. 

Sandys:  I  believe  thee,  Master  Hopkins.  I 
believe  in  the  great  purpose  and  fine  courage  of 
thy  fellow-Brownists  now  in  exile  for  their  faith 
in  the  Netherlands.  Here  are  private  letters 
to  Brewster,  Bradford,  and  thy  worthy  pastor, 


24  THE  BIRTH  OF  AMERICA 

John  Robinson.  We  may  seem  to  differ  in  our 
tenets,  but,  like  my  brother  of  Scrooby  Manor, 
I  am  out  of  patience  with  those  in  State  or 
Church  who  seek  by  force  to  fit  opinion  in  a 
single  iron  mould. 

Hopkins:  Thy  brother  hast  been  most  kind  to 
those  who  have  barely  'scaped  the 

Sandys:  Beware  thy  speech — even  walls 
have  ears  at  times.  I  am  prepared  to  suffer 
much  for  the  faith  that's  in  me,  but  I  would  not 
so  unduly.  I  would  be  useful  to  our  cause 
whilst  I  may. 

Hopkins:  I  hope  to  take  passage  for  Hol 
land  within  the  week.  (Moves  to  go  through 
door  by  which  he  entered.} 

Sandys:     Nay,  take  this  door  and  pass  not 
near  yonder  arch.     A  Spanish  wolf  in  English 
wool  awaits  thy  coming  and  wouldst  know  thy 
mission  here.     Godspeed  thy  journey. 
(Exit  HOPKINS.) 

Southampton:  My  thoughts  are  fixed  upon 
our  gifted  Shakespeare.  Thy  word  of  caution 
was  not  lost. 

Sandys:  Thou  thyself  shouldst  be  the  first 
to  recall  that  fateful  February  when  his  play 
on  our  Second  Richard  caused  the  great  Eliza 
beth. 


THE  BIRTH  OF  AMERICA  25 

Southampton:  ...  In  her  declining  years, 
surrounded,  flattered,  and  deceived  as  she  then 
was  by  a  group  of  absolutists  who  did  lead  her 
to  betray  her  earlier  and  better  self. 

Sandys:  The  Court  party  denounced  the  play 
as  teaching  that  authority  lies  with  the  body 
politic  and  that  royalty  is  responsible  to  the 
people. 

Southampton:  Yes,  I  was  condemned  to  the 
Tower;  and  then,  two  years  later,  thou  sentest 
me  word  of  thy  hopes  of  the  new  king  and  of 
thy  journey  to  greet  him  at  Scotland's  border 
to  bring  him  hence  to  London  Town.  But  these 
are  harrowing  memories.  I  must  be  hence. 
Soon  or  late  our  Royal  Master  will  learn  the 
truth  and  move  against  our  London  Company. 
We  have  those  in  our  ranks  who  are  not  of  our 
way  of  thinking.  (Exit.) 

Sandys:  (Turns  to  window  facing  arch — is 
silent  a  moment.  Enter  LADY  SANDYS  quietly 
from  side.  Hands  SIR  EDWIN  a  letter.}  My 
love,  I  was  thinking  that  just  seven  years  have 
passed  since  I,  all  hopeful  of  better  things, 
brought  his  Stuart  Majesty  through  yonder 
gate,  now  arched  to  despotism  and- — ha  ! — re 
inforced  by  Holy  Writ!  James  has  set  upon 
the  eastern  side 


26  THE  BIRTH  OF  AMERICA 

Lady  Sandys:  "There  shall  enter  into  the 
gates  of  this  city  (pause}  kings  and  princes." 

Sandys:  Thou  knowest  it  well;  but  over 
against  that  perversion  of  a  half-truth,  I  ever 
hold  in  mind  the  text  of  the  James  Towne  pas 
tor  who  preached  in  welcome  of  Governor 
Gates  and  our  recent  Charter.  (Opens  packet 
of  papers.)  Here  it  is  (reads)  :  "Now  the 
Lord  had  said  unto  Abram,  Get  thee  out  of 
thy  country  and  from  thy  kindred,  and  from 
thy  father's  house,  unto  a  land  that  I  will  shew 
thee.  And  I  will  make  of  thee  a  great  nation 
.  .  .  and  in  thee  shall  all  families  of  the  earth 
be  blessed." 

Lady  Sandys:  That  is  a  prophecy  that  will  be 
fulfilled  in  God's  good  time,  an  we  labour  and 
pray  for  it. 

Sandys:  The  people  of  America  will  be  fre*e 
whilst  we  are  half  in  bondage.  They  will  have 
free  assemblies  whilst  we  still  suffer  grievous 
wrongs.  But  the  torch  of  liberty  which  we  shall 
light  in  the  New  World  will  serve  to  guide  our 
posterity  here — for  in  AMERICA  "shall  all 
the  families  of  the  earth  be  blessed."  (Opens 
letter.)  A  letter  from  my  Lord,  the  Arch 
bishop  of  Canterbury.  (Reads.)  It  is  as  I 
had  reason  to  suspect — he  will  not  sanction  the 


THE  BIRTH  OF  AMERICA  27 

departure  of  the  Brownists  through  England 
to  the  New  World.    Other  means  for  this  must, 
and  will,   be   found.     Wait,   work,   and  hope. 
We  are  at  the  threshold  of  a  new  age. 
CURTAIN 

ACT   II 

SCENE  I 

Open  place  in  forest  some  thirty  miles  outside 
of  Jamestown. 

Time:  Late  afternoon  of  July  28,  1619,  two 
days  before  meeting  of  First  Legislative  As 
sembly  at  Jamestown  and  shortly  after  the  first 
secret  attacks  upon  the  settlers  since  the  mar 
riage  of  Pocahontas  and  John  Rolfe  in  1614. 

Curtain  rises  on  the  Christian  Indian, 
Chanco,  standing  in  an  attitude  of  prayer  to 
the  Great  White  Spirit  of  the  Palefaces,  face 
upturned,  hands  widestretched,  with  palms 
towards  the  heavens.  As  he  stands  thus,  an 
Indian  girl  steals  through  the  gloom,  glancing 
backwards  as  if  fearing  pursuit.  She  glides 
softly  up  to  Chanco  and  touches  his  arm  gently, 
still  glancing  backwards.  Chanco  stands  stoic 
ally,  without  moving.  She  speaks  softly,  calling 
his  name. 


28  THE  BIRTH  OF  AMERICA 

Chanco:  (Turns  and  speaks  curiously,  ques- 
tioningly)  Kanawha! 

Kanawha:  Chanco  prays  to  Paleface  God. 
(Pointing  up.) 

Chanco:  The  Paleface  chiefs  know  and  they 
teach  me. 

Kanawha:   I  know  Paleface  teaching,  too. 

Chanco:  Powhatan,  father  of  Matoaka, 
sees  Matoaka  in  the  sky.  (Again  pointing  up 
wards.) 

Kanawha:  But  (shudders  slightly} — Ope- 
chancanough — he,  too,  is  great  chief — he  will 
kill. 

Chanco:  Yes. 

Kanawha:  (Slowly)  Matoaka — Pocahon- 
tas — Rebecca.  Kanawha  would  be  like  her,— 
follow  the  white  man's  God. 

Chanco:  The  father  of  Kanawha  hates 
Paleface  Christians.  He  will  kill  you. 

Kanawha:  Listen  to  Kanawha.  She  has 
heard  the  old  men's  council,  seen  them  shake 
their  angry  war  clubs  and  cry  "Kill  the  Paleface 
tribe" !  They  have  sent  for  Croatan.  She 
will  chant  the  war  cry. 

Chanco:  Chanco  goes  to  the  Paleface  wig 
wams.  (Starts,  but  she  detains  him.) 

Kanawha:  Wait!    (Looking  about  her  cau- 


THE  BIRTH  OF  AMERICA  29 

tiously)  Join  in  the  camp-fire  council,  dance 
the  death  dance  with  the  young  men.  Then 
when  they  forget,  slip  into  the  deep  woods' 
shelter  and  go  to  the  Paleface  wigwams. 
(  Tom-toms  heard  in  the  distance. )  Here  they 
meet  beneath  the  oak  trees. 

KANAWHA  slips  quietly  out  and 
CHANCO  glides  away  in  the  shadows. 
Tom-toms  grow  louder;  enter  Indian 
squaws,  bringing  with  them  wood  for 
camp-fire.  They  squat  in  circle  close 
beside  it.  Enter  PowHATAN  and  his 
brother,  OPECHANCANOUGH.  Enter 
medicine  men  and  others,  hideously 
painted.  Young  men  stand  leaning 
against  trees,  scowling,  arms  crossed, 
looking  down  on  the  group  of  squt- 
ting  squaws  and  medicine  men. 
Enter  aged  Indian  woman  (equivalent 

to  sorceress  or  witch}. 

Old  Woman:  (Turning  to  POWHATAN) 
Powhatan,  great  Chief  Powhatan !  ( Turn 
ing  to  OPECHANCANOUGH)  Opechancanough, 
strong  to  fight! 

POWHATAN    and    chorus     of    voices: 

Croatan!    Croat  an! 
Old  Woman:  You  call  me  "Croatan."     It  is 


30  THE  BIRTH  OF  AMERICA 

well.  Paleface  no  more  at  Roanoke !  The 
moon  is  dying!  Let  the  Paleface  follow  the 
moon!  The  Great  Spirit  of  the  Sun  says  Kill! 
Kill!  KILL  I 

Powhatan:  Matoaka  is  dead  in  the  Paleface 
wigwam  beyond  the  Great  Waters.  What  says 
Matoaka,  my  daughter,  by  Paleface  men  called 

Pocahontas  ? — Matoaka 

Opechancanough:  The  Great  Spirit  has 
tasted  Paleface  blood!  These  are  dead. 
(Makes  circle  around  head  and  holds  up  all  ten 
fingers.}  No  Paleface  dogs!  No  moon! 

(Cries  of  assent.) 

Chant  led  by  CROATAN,  Kill!  Kill! 
KILL!  Tom-toms,  war  dance.  OPE 
CHANCANOUGH  passes  by.  Looks 
at  CHANCO,  who  shows  no  fear  and 
returns  gaze — immovable — stoically 
inscrutable. 

While  dance  and  cries  of  "Kill!"  go  on, 
CHANCO  slips  away. 
CURTAIN 

ACT   II 

SCENE  II 

Jamestown,  outside  the  house  of  Captain 
William  Powell,  a  first  settler,  chief  gunner  at 


THE  BIRTH  OF  AMERICA  31 

Jamestown,  and  a  Burgess  sitting  for  "James 
Citie."  A  low  rustic  fence  marks  boundry  be 
tween  grounds  of  the  house  and  the  cleared 
land.  A  gate  through  which  the  wives  of  the 
settlers  appear  later. 

Time:  Afternoon  of  July  29,  1619,  prior  to 
formal  gathering  on  the  following  day  of  the 
First  Legislative  Assembly  in  America. 

Curtain  rises  upon  Captain  Powell,  Captain 
Francis  West,  Captain  Samuel  Jordan,  Isaac 
Madison,  John  Jefferson,  the  Reverend  Richard 
Buck,  and  John  Pory,  newly-arrived  Secretary 
under  Governor  Yeardley  and  former  member 
of  Parliament  from  Bridgewater,  England. 

Rev.  Buck:  Praise  be  to  God!  To-morrow's 
the  day  when  the  free  men  of  these  plantations 
meet  to  make  laws  in  their  own  right. 

West:  'Twill  summon  the  first  Parliament  in 
the  New  World. 

Jefferson:  Fortunately  the  first  but  happily 
not  the  last.  I  foresee  as  many  Parliaments  as 
there  are  settlements  on  these  thousand  miles  of 
coast. 

West:  True,  word  has  just  come  that  Brad 
ford,  Brewster,  and  the  Separatists  now  in  the 
Netherlands  have  a  patent  from  our  London 


32  THE  BIRTH  OF  AMERICA 

Company  and  are  preparing  to  take  ship  for 
America. 

Powell:  For  some  place,  it  is  said,  this  side 
of  Hudson's  river  at  whose  island  entrance  the 
Dutch  are  now  established. 

Jordan:  Captain  Argall  should  have  dis 
lodged  the  Dutchmen  as  he  did  the  French  in 
Acadie.  Did  not  the  great  Cabot  lay  good 
claim  to  all  this  coast  in  the  name  of  England? 
But  what  of  these  Separatists? 

Jefferson:  'Tis  rumored  that  Samuel  Sandys 
of  Scrooby  Manor  saw  them  safe  from  Eng 
land  and  helped  them  on  to  Holland. 

Jordan:  And  now  Sir  Edwin  Sandys  helps 
them  on  to  us!  I  like  them  not.  They'll  stir 
up  strife. 

Jefferson:  Shame  on  thy  speech,  Captain 
Jordan.  Hast  thou  not  caught  the  noble  spirit 
of  Sir  Edwin  and  the  Founders  of  our  New 
Britannia?  Wouldst  thou,  in  one  breath,  praise 
him  for  the  sacrifice  of  his  private  means — nay, 
for  risking  life  itself — on  behalf  of  our  liberty; 
and  then  decry  him  for  aiding  these  most  excel 
lent  exiled  Englishmen  to  a  home  in  our  yet 
untrammeled  world? 

Jordan:  They  teach  heretical  doctrines  and 
swear  no  allegiance  to  the  Church. 


THE  BIRTH  OF  AMERICA  33 

West:  We  owe  no  blind  obedience  to  king  or 
bishop  here.  America  is  large  enough  to  shelter 
men  of  all  beliefs,  if  they  be  but  good  citizens 
and  strive  for  the  public  weal. 

Powell:  I  feel  that  the  spirit  of  thy  father, 
the  good  Lord  De  La  Warr,  is  with  us  in  thee, 
his  noble  son. 

Jefferson:  Lord  De  La  Warr  saved  the  col 
ony  when  hope  seemed  lost.  I  heard  the  news 
nine  years  since  this  next  September  from  Sir 
Edwin  Sandys  himself.  ( Turning  to  REV. 
BUCK.)  He  showed  me  also  the  text  of  thy 
sermon  and  thy  prophecy  that  "in  America  shall 
all  the  nations  of  the  earth  be  blessed." 

Madison:  In  America  we  shall  be  free  to 
speak  our  minds.  The  King  will  not  prorogue 
our  Parliament  here,  albeit  His  Majesty  has 
called  no  Parliament  in  England  for  these  many 
years. 

Jordan:  But  the  King's  governor  will,  if  the 
King  so  commands. 

Madison:   An  we  pay  his  salary,  he  will  be 
circumspect  enough  upon  reporting  to  the  King, 
seeing  that  he  is  beholden  to  us  for  his  wages. 
(Expressions  of  approval.} 

Jefferson:  The  Spanish  Gondomar,  suc 
cessor  to  Zuniga,  has  reported  to  the  King  that 


34  THE  BIRTH  OF  AMERICA 

the  London  Company  has  ever  been  a  "Semi 
nary  for  sedition."  I  fear  for  the  noble  Sandys. 
His  writings  have  been  publicly  burned  and  he 
is  threatened  with  confinement  in  the  Tower. 

West:  Our  Governor  Yeardley,  who  is  now 
given  power  to  do  that  which  Sandys  has  la 
bored  for  from  the  beginning,  is  one  of  us  and 
has  an  interest  in  this  plantation. 

Rev.  Buck:  Where  a  man's  treasure  is,  there 
will  his  heart  be  also. 

(Enter    JOHN     ROLFE,     NATHANIEL 
POWELL,  and  ENSIGN  ROSSINGHAM.) 

Here  are  further  representatives  of  the  out 
lying  plantations — Burgesses  gathered  from 
far  and  near  for  our  great  Assembly.  Here's 
Master  Rolfe  (turning  to  Pory}  whose  mar 
riage  with  the  Princess  Pocahontas  has  saved 
us  from  the  deadly  enmity  of  the  great  chief 
Powhatan.  (Turning  to  ROLFE)  Our  honor 
able  Secretary  Pory,  sometime  member  of 
Parliament  from  Bridgewater,  who  has  been 
asked  to  preside  over  the  Burgesses  on  the  mor 
row.  (To  PORY)  And  here  is  Captain  Na 
thaniel  Powell,  who,  with  Admiral  Newport, 
explored  the  Bay  of  Chesapeake  to  its  farthest 
limits — and  Ensign  Rossingham,  nephew  of  our 
noble  Governor. 


THE  BIRTH  OF  AMERICA  35 

Pory:  I  myself  was  present  when  the  Prin 
cess  Pocahontas  came  to  Court.  (Turning  to 
CAPTAIN  WEST)  As  "Lady  Rebecca,"  she  was 
presented  to  the  Queen  by  thy  mother,  Lady 
De  La  Warr. 

Rev.  Buck:  Rebecca  was  her  baptismal  name. 
(Enter  CAPTAIN  JOHN  MARTIN,  of 
Martin's  Brandon.} 

Rev.  Buck:  (To  SECRETARY  PORY)  Greet 
ings  to  Captain  John  Martin  of  Martin's  Bran 
don,  master  of  ordnance — a  captain  under 
Drake  on  many  seas,  and  the  settler  who  has 
done  most  of  all  to  extend  the  bounds  of  our 
colony. 

Martin:  (Bluntly)  What's  this  I  hear  is  pro 
posed  against  the  Burgesses  from  Brandon? 

West:  'Tis  said  that  they  will  be  denied  their 
seats  unless  they  and  thou  yield  special  claims 
for  indulgences  not  granted  to  the  other  planta 
tions.  , 

Martin:  I  hold  my  patent  for  my  service 
done,  which  no  new  or  late  comer  can  merit  or 
challenge.  I  came  with  the  first  supply.  I  have 
borne  the  burden  and  heat  of  the  day.  Shall  I 
now  be  deprived  of  that  which  is  mine  own? 

Jefferson:  Special  privilege  may  be  granted 
to  no  one  in  perpetuity.  We  deny  only  that 


36  THE  BIRTH  OF  AMERICA 

single  claim  of  privilege  and  exemption  from 
future  dues.  All  other  rewards  thou  shouldst 
have — and  they  are  justly  merited. 

Martin:  By  the  soul  of  the  mighty  Drake! 
I'll  carry  this  matter  before  the  London  Com 
pany  and  mayhap  His  Majesty  himself.  I  go 
to  see  the  Governor.  (In  going  of  to  left, 
meets  middle-aged  soldier.} 

Soldier:  Sir,  it's  meself  could  get  no  worrk 
in  the  auld  countrie,  so  I've  me  bag  and  baggage 
here  in  me  own  person.  Oi  was  a  soldier  in  the 
Low  Countrie. 

Martin:  I,  too,  fought  the  Spaniard  in  the 
Netherlands. 

Soldier:  Oi  knew  ye,  Captain,  so  soon  as  Oi 
laid  me  eyn  upon  ye  !  Is  it  that 

Martin:  Oh,  ha!  ha!  ha!  Bless  my  stars! 
As  I  live,  'tis  Patrick  Gookin  of  County  Cork ! 
How  earnest  thou  here? 

Gookin:  Oi  come  from  Newce's  Town, 
County  Cork,  by  order  of  Sir  William  Newce. 
(Hands  MARTIN  a  note.) 

Martin:  (Hums  over  beginning — reads 
aloud  principal  point  of  interest]  Sir  William 
says:  "Wholly  upon  my  own  adventure,  I  pur 
pose  sending  to  Virginia  eighty  to  one  hundred 


THE  BIRTH  OF  AMERICA  37 

settlers.  With  them  will  be  shipped  some  forty 
young  cattle,  of  which  news  has  reached  us  there 
is  great  need  in  America.  I  am  promised  a  set 
tlement  at  a  place  which  shall  be  called  New 
Porte  Newce  in  Virginia.  Moreover,  your 
noble  Governor  has  writ  that  he  has  'conceived 
great  hope  if  this  Irish  plantation  prosper  that 
from  Ireland  great  multitude  of  people,  both 
high  and  low,  will  be  like  to  come  hither.'  ' 

Good!  come  with  me.  Thou  shalt  make  thy 
home  at  Martin's  Brandon.  Virginia  is  hous 
ing  men  of  many  faiths — common  citizens  in  a 
common  cause  and  comrades-at-arms  in  a  com 
mon  danger.  Again,  welcome.  We  are  free 
men  here. 

Gookin:  An'  didst  ye  not  say  ye  would  be 
seeing  of  the  Governor? 

Martin:  Oh!  I  had  forgot.  I'll  see  him  on 
the  morrow,  man.  Come,  we'll  have  a  bit  of 
Dutch  ale  together. 

(Makes  sailor-sign  of  drinking  grog. 
GOOKIN  delighted.  Exeunt  on  side 
opposite  to  original  direction.} 

Jefferson:  Our  Captain  Martin's  an  English 
man  of  whom  we  may  be  proud.  He  has  won 
bountiful  Success  out  of  black  Despair;  but  in 
this  matter  of  privilege,  the  Burgesses  will  rule 

461126 


38  THE  BIRTH  OF  AMERICA 

— not  the  Governor — nor  even  the  King  him 
self. 

Pory:  How,  man,  dost  dare  defy  His 
Majesty? 

Jefferson:  His  Majesty  has  attempted  no  in 
justice  in  this  matter.  Hast  thou  read  Master 
Shakespeare's  play  on  King  Richard?  Dost 
think  James  will  follow  in  Richard's  footsteps, 
to  be  succeeded  by  another  Henry?  This  mat 
ter 

Rev.  Buck: Of  present  interest  now  are 

the  great  acts  proposed  for  the  morrow.  I 
have  received  amplest  assurances  that  Church 
attendance  will  be  carefully  guarded. 

Madison:  Likewise,  there  will  be  laws  en 
acted  against  excess  in  apparel.  Tobacco  has 
yielded  us  of  late  so  great  returns  that  some 
upstart  unthrifts  here  would  outgroom  attend 
ants  at  His  Majesty's  Court  1  There  is  yet  seri 
ous  business  in  taming  this  great  wilderness. 

William  Powell:  And  keeping  watch  on  red 
men,  who  may  seem  peaceable  now,  but  are 
ever  fit  for  stratagem  and  sudden  death 

Jordan:  Opechancanough  has  made  over 
much  excuse,  and,  to  my  mind,  a  false  show  of 
penitence  for  the  ten  foul  murders  done  this 
past  springtime. 


THE  BIRTH  OF  AMERICA  39 

Powell:  Our  supplies  of  powder  ran  short, 
Master  Pory.  The  naturals  no  longer  heard 
the  ring  of  our  fowling  pieces.  They  believed 
our  guns  were  "sick,"  as  are  early  settlers  with 
the  ague  and  fever  of  the  lowlands.  That  made 
them  bold. 

Jordan:  Their  penitence  is  Opechanca- 
nough's  pretense.  They  do  not  try  to  appre 
hend  the  murderers. 

West:  It  is  said  their  fathers  surprised  De 
Ayllon  and  three  hundred  Spaniards  on  this 
very  coast.  We  face  Indian  attacks  from 
within  and  Spanish  invasion  from  without — 
forts  on  the  Chesapeake  and  stockades  against 
the  wilderness. 

Powell:  Old  Argall  hanged,  sans  judge  and 
jury,  some  seven  of  these  Spanish  spies,  as  an 
ensample  to  the  rest. 

Rev.  Buck:  Brethren  and  Christians  all, 
should  we  not  forget  the  offenses  of  certain  un 
tutored  and  perchance  wronged  salvages?  Are 
we  not  gaining  new  converts?  Powhatan  him 
self  has  heard  me  in  most  solemn  fashion,  and 
a  handsome  tithe  of  our  increasing  means  has 
been  given  for  the  education  of  all  these  natu 
rals.  To  which  monies  also  have  been  added 
from  followers  of  Christ  across  the  sea;  and, 


46  THE  BIRTH  OF  AMERICA 

good  men,  dying,  have  willed  a  share  of  their 
estates  for  the  conversion  of  the  heathen. 

West:  On  the  morrow,  laws  will  be  proposed 
to  set  aside  public  lands  for  a  free  school  and  a 
college  at  Henricus. 

Jefferson:  These  acts  will  pass.  A  majority 
of  the  Burgesses  favor  them.  Ten  thousand 
acres  of  land  will  be  set  aside  for  this  noble  end. 

Rev.  Buck:  In  England,  Master  George 
Thorpe  has  taken  to  himself  an  Indian  boy  and 
showed  him  how  to  read  and  write.  What  he 
has  done  with  this  one  natural,  he  purposes  to 
do  with  many  others.  He  will  join  us  in  the 
next  supply. 

Enter  CHANCO  (Indian  convert) — in 
background — accompanied  by  Indian 
group.  Beckons  to  CAPTAIN  WEST 
and  JOHN  ROLFE.  They  confer  at 
distance. 

Rev.  Buck:  (Pointing  to  group]  There  are 
certain  of  our  Christian  converts,  Master  Pory. 
Chanco,  their  leader,  is  our  near  neighbor; 
others  are  from  the  East  Shore  of  Virginia 
across  the  Bay.  They  are  the  subjects  of  De- 
bedeavon,  called  by  us  "The  Laughing  King". 
He  and  his  live  apart  from  the  Powhatans 


THE  BIRTH  OF  AMERICA  41 

amidst  such  plentiful  supplies  of  fish  and  fowl 
as  no  other  land  has  seen  the  like. 

Madison:  The  mild  climate  and  bountiful 
soil  makes  for  milder  natures  there. 

Rev.  Buck:  Wild  and  strong  they  are,  yet  not 
given  wholly  over  to  savage  customs  and  still 
more  savage  hates.  On  our  part,  we  have  not 
always  dealt  justly  with  these  naturals,  and 
Debedeavon  has  attended  court  for  redress  of 
the  grievances  of  his  people. 

Jefferson:  Happily,  he  was  aided  by  worthy 
counsel  and  got  amends. 

Rev.  Buck:  Furthermore,  he  pays  the  Powha- 
tans  tribute  to  live  in  peace  and  enjoy  the  bounty 
of  his  pleasant  estate. 

Pory:  Forsooth,  I  would  be  frank  with  them 
— and  all  of  you.  I  do  not  like  these  salvages. 
They  move  about  with  stealthy  steps  and  hate 
ful  looks.  But  yesterday  it  seemed  to  me  that 
sundry  of  your  Master  Rolfe's  redskinned  kins 
men  eyed  this  baldness  above  my  brow  with 
marked  disfavor !  Without  doubt  they  thought 
my  scalp  and  skull  would  prove  the  more  diffi 
cult  to  divorce  on  this  account.  For  if,  per 
chance,  some  damnable  devil  had  to  hasten  his 
bloody  custom,  his  clutching  fingers  would  find 


42  THE  BIRTH  OF  AMERICA 

no  forelock  ready  to  relieve  me  of  mine  proper 
toppiece ! 

(Laughter  from  the  elder  settlers) 

Jefferson:  Now  I  perceive  why  it  was  thou 
changest  thy  goodly  quarters  from  high  ground 
up  the  river  to  humbler  but  safer  ground  near 
Powell's  ordnance 

(More  laughter) 

Pory:  As  accredited  minister  of  the  realm, 
I've  been  in  France,  Italy,  and  in  Greece.  In 
Constantinople  I  was  given  up  for  lost,  where 
messages  on  my  person  borne  were  worth  a 
patriotic  killing  to  any  band  of  worthy  assassins, 
yet  never  before  have  I  felt  myself  in  such 
jeopardy  of  my  life.  Why,  one  recent  night  in 
that  upper  dwelling,  I  chanced  to  rouse  from 
sleep  and  at  the  window  came  I  suddenly  upon 
a  redskin.  It  was  in  the  ghost-like  darkness 
of  a  spent  moon.  Immovable  he  seemed;  yet, 
gliding  immovable-like,  he  vanished  into  thin 
air  I  I'd  sooner  front  some  twenty  Turks  in  a 
street  at  midnight  than  walk  abroad  by  day 
whilst  knowing  that  one  such  redskin  lives  in 
yonder  forest! 

(Much  show  of  enjoyment  by  all,  except 
Captain  POWELL.  The  latter  seems 
preoccupied  and  has  frequently  glanced 


THE  BIRTH  OF  AMERICA  43 

at  the  group  containing  CHANCO,  WEST 
and  ROLFE) 

Laugh,  on,  if  you  will!  But  commend  me  to 
your  jolly  Debedeavon  and  a  long  or  longer 
life  on  the  Eastern  Shore !  for,  by  the  scalpel  1 
Death  lurks  here  by  day,  and  at  night  looks  in 
the  window !  Was  it  not  Will  Shakespeare  who 
made  Caesar  say  that,  "Cowards  die  many  times 
before  their  death"?  But  also  even  mighty 
Caesar  said: 

"Let  me  have  men  about  me  that  are  fat, 
Sleek-headed  men,  and  such  as  sleep  o' 

nights." 

In  double  sooth,  I  swear  these  naturals  are 
twice  as  lean  and  hungry  as  any  Cassius,  and 
withal  twenty  times  as  numerous.  One  may 
but  hope  that  they  do  not  think  as  much ! 

(Exit   Indian   group    and   ROLFE    and 

WEST  earnestly  talking] 
Rev.  Buck:  I  will  join  these  converts  and 
wish  them  Godspeed  in  their  mission. 
Jefferson:  I  would  go  with  thee. 
Rev.   Buck:  Come.      (Exeunt    REV.    BUCK 
and  JEFFERSON.) 

Powell:  Our  worthy  minister  is  far  too  trust 
ful  of  these  salvages.  I  tell  him  and  all  alike 
that  Opechancanough  has  foul  murder  in  his 


44  THE  BIRTH  OF  AMERICA 

heart.  He  is  an  arch-conspirator.  He  thinks 
in  terms  of  all  of  us  to  compass  the  complete 
extermination  of  this  colony  as  that  at  Roanoke 
where  naught  remained  but  that  one  word 
Croatan. 

(Enter  from  house  in  background  MIS 
TRESSES  CICELY  JORDAN  and  MARY 
MADISON) 

Ho !  Here's  Mistress  Cicely  Jordan  and  Mis 
tress  Madison. 

Mistress  Jordan:  (Addressing  PORY)  Again 
we  bid  thee  welcome  to  Virgina,  Master  Secre 
tary. 

Madison:  When  these  twain  meet  together 
we  know  that  much  ground  has  been  covered 
and  all  matters  disposed  of. 

Pory :  And  always  rightly ! 

Mistress  Jordan:  Quite  knightly  said,  Sir 
Secretary. 

Mistress  Madison:  Now,  what  was  all  that 
merriment  about? 

Mistress  Jordan:  I  know  it  was  some  brutal 
jest  over  the  foibles  of  us  poor  women. 

Pory:  Our  best  thoughts  are  ever  fixed  upon 
the  excellencies  of  the  fair  sex,  Mistress  Jordan. 

Jordan:  I  am  loath  to  be  a  seeming-contrary 
witness,  but  our  merry  thoughts  were  at  Secre- 


THE  BIRTH  OF  AMERICA  45 

tary  Pory's  expense.  He  chanced  to  see  what 
we  see  daily — or  nightly,  for  that  matter — a 
prowling  Indian,  when  our  watchdogs  warn 
them  not  away. 

Mistress  Madison:  (Aside  and  suddenly  be 
come  serious]  Many  of  our  best  dogs  have 
strangely  died  of  late. 

Mistress  Jordan:  Nay,  the  talk  was  not  all 
at  the  expense  of  our  guest.  I  overheard  it 
said  that  the  Burgesses  will,  forsooth,  tax  our 
appearance,  meaning  our  apparel,  in  accord 
with  its  respective  bravery.  To  illustrate :  a 
man's  doublet,  or  a  woman's  bodice. 

Jordan:  A  bachelor  is  taxed  but  once  by  that 
unequal  measure,  a  benedict  four  times. 

Powell:  Now  how  dost  thou  make  that  out, 
friend  Jordan? 

Jordan:  For  every  frill  a  married  man  puts 
upon  his  apparel,  his  wife  must  needs  add  three 
to  hers. 

Mistress  Jordan:  Fie  upon  thee,  Samuel, 
Thy  many  plants  have  grown  so  great  that  they 
have  rooted  out  my  roses.  Money  may  not  grow 
on  trees,  but,  in  America,  it  lies  in  leaves  and 
leaves  and  yet  more  leaves! 

Jordan:  And  hard  and  honest  labor! 

Pcry:  By  your  leave  or  leaves,  ladies,  your 


46  THE  BIRTH  OF  AMERICA 

good  health  and  a  wealthy  world  of  good  Vir 
ginia  weed!  (Proposes  toast.)  I  fancy  I  am  just 
beginning  to  forget  yonder  wilderness  and  its 
villainous  dark-skinned  denizens. 

(Indian  passes  in  background,  catching 
eye  of  Secretary  PORY) 

Mistress  Jordan:  Tell  us  the  news  from 
Court  and  London  Town  and  what  may  now  be 
the  fashions  there. 

Pory:  Well,  for  one  thing,  hast  thou  read 
His  Majesty's  pamphlet,  "A  Counterblast 
Against  Tobacco,"  duly  imprinted  in  London 
for  the  guidance  of  His  Majesty's  loyal  sub 
jects? 

Jordan:  Did  he  decry  its  use? 

Pory:  Assuredly  he  did.  His  Majesty  at 
tempted  it,  and  forthwith  sent  for  a  doctor  of 
physic.  Citizens  of  Virginia,  I  would  not  stir 
you  up  to  mutiny  and  rage,  but  His  Majesty 
has  termed  your  chiefest  source  of  revenue  a 
"most  detestable  weed"  with  "vile"  fumes — 

Jordan:  Why,  good  Queen  Bess  smoked  it 
and  at  once  pronounced  it  "a  vegetable  of  singu 
lar  strength  and  power." 

Pory:  True,  but  Her  Majesty  was  a  woman, 
and  ably  disguised  her  feelings  in  the  matter. 
Having  pronounced  her  august  opinion,  she  dis- 


THE  BIRTH  OF  AMERICA  47 

creetly,  and  with  marked  fortitude,  retired.  I 
heard  the  rest  from  a  maid  of  honor  at  the 
Court. 

Mistress  Madison:  Now,  is  this  the  sum  and 
finish  of  all  thy  knightly  speeches,  Master 
Pory? 

Pory:  Pray,  do  me  no  injustice,  Mistress 
Madison.  I  fear  thou  dost  but  draw  unwar 
ranted  conclusions  from  my  manner  of  awkward 
speech.  I  cast  no  reflections,  only  I  do  most 
stoutly  maintain  that  woman  is  the  braver  sex. 
I  would  but  stress  the  point,  for  I  know  that 
since  the  other  night  in  yonder  house,  courage 
is  not  my  strong  suit;  therefore  would  I  praise 
it  most  in  others. 

(Noise  of  drums  and  martial  music) 

Mistress  Jordan:  Oh!  There  go  the  Gover 
nor  and  his  Council,  with  a  brave  array  of  hal 
berdiers  !  Come !  Let's  go  see  what  may  be 
seen!  (All  start) 

Pory:  (Loath  to  move,  aside)  :  A  weari 
some,  noisy  fan-fare  this!  I'll  stay  and  smoke 
it  out. 

(Indian  appears  in  background.) 

No,  I'll  join  the  rest;  (Aloud)  : 

"The  man  that  hath  no  music  in  him 
self, 


48  THE  BIRTH  OF  AMERICA 

Nor  is  not  moved  with  concord  of  sweet 

sounds, 
Is    fit    for    treasons,    stratagems,    and 

spoils" ! 

Mistress  Jordan:  (To  PORY)  A  fine  senti 
ment!  Master  Pory.  We'll  yet  make  of  thee  a 
good  Virginia  settler.  Thou  wilt  learn  to  like 
our  company  here. 

Pory:  (Looks  behind  him)  Have  I  my  way, 
I'll  never  separate  myself  from  it! 

Exeunt  all. 

(Rev.  RICHARD  BUCK  and  JOHN  JEF 
FERSON  re-enter  together  from  direc 
tion  opposite  to  those  going  out} 

Rev.  Buck:  Chanco  must  be  wrong.  The 
very  fervor  of  his  conversion  and  his  excess  of 
zeal  for  our  faith  misleads  him.  I  cannot  be 
lieve  so  ill  of  these  benighted  children  of  the 
forest.  They  do  not  plan  our  complete  exter 
mination  here.  We  shall  establish  schools  for 
them,  buy  land  of  them,  and  trade  with  them. 

Jefferson:  The  untutored  savage  apprehends 
little  of  our  religious  form  and  ceremony  and 
naught  as  yet  of  political  liberty,  self-control, 
and  self-government.  (With  great  fervor)  : 
But  to-morrow  the  General  Assembly  of  Vir- 


THE  BIRTH  OF  AMERICA  49 

ginia  will  make  history  that  shall  be  echoed  and 
re-echoed  throughout  the  world.  To-morrow 
we  light  the  torch  of  Liberty,  and  the  teeming 
millions  of  all  lands  will  see  it  and  be  glad.  For 
some  it  will  be  a  beacon  to  guide  their  footsteps 
hither,  and  the  first  to  come  will  be  our  own 
exiled  Englishmen  in  the  Netherlands;  others 
in  the  Old  World  will  be  inspired  to  emulate 
this  example  and  free  themselves  from  tyranny. 
Here  let  us  scotch  autocracy  forever,  and  may 
our  watchword  be — Sic  Semper  Tyrannis. 
America  for  the  free. 

Curtain 

ACT  III 

SCENE  I 

Cabin  of  Mayflower.  Time  :  Afternoon  of 
November  20,  (N.S.)  1620. 

Curtain  rises  on  William  Bradford,  seated 
at  table  writing.  Mistress  Bradford  near  at 
hand  apparently  busy  in  expectation  of  a  meet 
ing.  Spinning  wheel,  etc.  Knock  at  door  of 
cabin.  Mistress  Bradford  goes  to  door  and 
opens  slightly. 

Bradford:  (Looking  up  from  work]  Who's 
there? 


50  THE  BIRTH  OF  AMERICA 

Mistress  Bradford:  'Tis  Mistress  Elizabeth 
Hopkins  and  Priscilla  Mullens,  come  to  ask  if 
they  may  be  useful  here.  I  have  told  them  thou 
wast  at  thy  work  in  preparation  for  special 
counselling  on  our  future  course. 

Bradford:  My  report  is  finished.  Bid  them 
enter. 

(Enter  MISTRESS  HOPKINS  and  PRIS 
CILLA  MULLENS) 

Priscilla,  my  child,  how  fares  thy  father  after 
his  chill  and  long  exposure  to  the  storm? 

Priscilla:  Praise  be  to  God,  he  is  improved 
and  hopes  to  be  upon  his  feet  again. 

Bradford:  (To  MISTRESS  HOPKINS)  Hast 
thy  husband  returned  with  the  party  of  explora 
tion?  I  put  much  faith  in  his  service  to  us  here. 
He  has  had  rare  experience  of  shipwreck  at  sea ; 
and,  at  James  Towne,  did  also  learn  some 
knowledge  of  this  new  country. 

Mistress  Hopkins:  I  have  seen  them  leaving 
the  shore  and  pulling  hard  for  the  ship.  I  had 
feared  for  their  safety.  They  have  been  gone 
since  the  early  dawn  of  yesterday. 

(Enter  JOHN  CARVER,  JOHN  ALDEN, 
and  EDWARD  WINSLOW) 

Bradford:  You  are  in  proper  time,  Master 
Carver.  (To  JOHN  ALDEN)  I  know  that  our 


modest  and  ever  faithful  John  Alden  comes  to 
report  the  completion  of  repairs  on  our  wrecked 
boat,  else  he  would  not  now  be  present. 

John  Alden:  (Who  has  not  failed  to  see  PRIS- 
CILLA — at  a  distance — under  some  embarrass 
ment]  It  is — that  is — it  is  very  nearly  so.  Mas 
ter  Carver  asked  me  in. 

(BRADFORD  smiles  slightly  and  looks  in 
quiringly  at  WINSLOW) 

Carver:  Winslow  did  not  go  with  the  rest. 
With  William  Mullens  he  has  suffered  greatly 
from  last  Friday's  storm  and  the  overturning 
of  the  boat. 

Mistress  Bradford:  We  have  been  on  board 
this  ship  three-score  days  and  more.  I  trust 
that  the  time  to  land  be  not  much  longer  de 
layed.  Not  a  few  have  been  rendered  ill  from 
our  cramped  quarters  here. 

Winslow:  If  our  stormy  voyage  to  these 
shores  be,  as  termed  by  Elder  Brewster,  "one 
inch  of  hell,"  it  was,  in  truth,  a  most  slow  inch 
in  passing.  Assuredly,  I'll  not  be  the  first  to 
offer  to  retrace  it! 

Mistress  Bradford:  The  Master  of  the  May 
flower  himself  declared  he  ne'er  has  seen  a  more 
furious  ocean. 

Bradford:  A  firm   and  stable   earth   is  our 


52  THE  BIRTH  OF  AMERICA 

proper  element.  We  need  not  marvel  at  our 
long  disquietude,  now  happily  past;  we  have 
in  the  sayings  of  Seneca,  sage  of  ancient  Rome, 
that  he  was  "much  affected"  with  sailing  a  few 
leagues  off  the  coast  of  Italy. 

(Enter  MILES  STANDISH,  ELDER 
BREWSTER  and  STEPHEN  HOPKINS) 

Carver:  Here  at  last  are  Captain  Standish, 
Elder  Brewster,  and  our  experienced  Master 
Hopkins.  Are  the  others  returned  safe  to  the 
Mayflower? 

Standish:  All  are  returned  and  are  busy  with 
their  several  duties  ere  night  o'ertake  them. 

(Stage  business  in  foregoing  as  to  the 
women, — and  especially  PRISCILLA 
MULLENS  and  JOHN  ALDEN) 

Mistress  Bradford:  (To  PRISCILLA  MUL 
LENS  and  ELIZABETH  HOPKINS)  Come,  let  us 
leave  the  men  to  counsel  upon  certain  weighty 
matters.  May  God  guide  and  guard  their  de 
liberations. 

(Exeunt  women} 

Standish:  The  Captain  has  declared  his  un 
shakable  decision  that  the  winter  gales  be  too 
fresh  and  perilous  to  essay  a  landing  in  Virginia. 


THE  BIRTH  OF  AMERICA  53 

Carver:  But  the  patent  of  the  London  Com 
pany,  which  was  won  for  us  from  His  Majesty 
through  the  long  and  patient  intercession  of 
our  chiefest  patron,  the  noble  Sandys,  entitles 
us  to  land  many  leagues  to  the  south.  Shall  we 
go  beyond  and  above  this  title,  and  thus  give 
further  basis  for  complaint  to  his  enemies  at  the 
Court  and  in  the  Company? 

Bradford:  This  is  the  coast  of  New  Britannia 
or  New  England,  named  by  Captain  Smith. 
From  the  master  of  a  passing  fishing-smack  re 
turning  from  the  great  north  shoals,  we  learned 
to-day  that  Sandys  is  deposed  from  leadership 
in  the  Company  by  order  of  the  King. 

Hopkins:  His  Majesty  had  writ  the  Com 
pany  before  their  fall  elections  a  letter  of  in 
structions,  to  wit :  "Choose  the  devil,  if  you  will, 
but  not  SIR  EDWIN  SANDYS." 

Brews ten  Is  it  not  understood  amongst  the 
leaders  of  this  our  enterprise  that  the  more  we 
make  a  public  show  of  thanks  to  our  friends  in 
the  London  Company,  the  more  we  hurt  their 
cause  and  influence  with  the  King?  His  Ma 
jesty  has  already  taken  sharp  offense  in  that  the 
Company  has  granted  freedom  to  the  body  poli 
tic  at  James  Towne.  His  threat  to  dissolve 


54  THE  BIRTH  OF  AMERICA 

the    Company    may   be    turned    to    immediate 
action. 

Carver:  If  praise  be  given  for  this  our  haz 
ardous  undertaking,  let  it  not  be  given  first  to 
any  man  or  group  of  men.  Let  glory  and  honor 
be  given  to  the  LORD  ALMIGHTY.  Man  is  but  the 
humble  instrument  of  His  Holy  Will. 
(Solemn  assent  from  all} 

Hopkins:  Captain  Smith  has  been  inform 
ing  against  the  Company  and  his  former 
associates  at  James  Towne.  He  has  been  ap 
pointed  the  chief  licensed  historian  of  His  MA 
JESTY  for  the  Plantations  in  Virginia.  His 
"True  Relation"  is  indeed  a  brave  tale  in  which 
he  falsely  glorifies  himself  whilst  he  libels  those 
who  have  opposed  the  absolute  and  sovereign 
rule  of  the  King. 

Bradford:  Yet,  withal,  he  is  a  great  adven 
turer,  than  whom  there  has  been  no  bolder.  I 
do  not  despair  of  him,  but  rather  hope  the  Lord 
will  show  him  the  error  of  his  ways  I 

Brews ter:  He  writ  letters  to  Pastor  Robin 
son  offering  to  lead  and  guide  us  in  the  New 
World.  But  of  a  certainty  he  is  not  of  our  way 
of  thought  or  behavior.  We  were  warned  of 
him  by  Sir  Edwin,  whose  highest  aim  he  would 
betray. 


THE  BIRTH  OF  AMERICA  55 

Hopkins :  Adventurous  he  is,  but  jealous  of  all 
authority  save  his  own  or  the  King's, — a  veri 
table  trouble-maker.  At  James  Towne  he  was 
landed  first  in  chains  under  accusation  of  incit 
ing  mutiny  with  the  crew  of  the  Sarah  Constant, 
under  Newport's  command.  His  secret  ap 
pointment  to  the  first  Council  of  the  Colony  by 
the  King  saved  him  from  condemnation  and 
death.  Lastly,  he  left  James  Towne  under  in 
dictment  of  attempt  to  betray  to  the  Indians 
Captain  Francis  West,  the  gallant  son  of  the 
good  Lord  De  La  Warr. 

Bradford:  The  charges  have,  however,  not 
been  proved. 

Carver:  They  were  not  pressed  to  the  end. 
Captain  Smith  has  the  ear  of  the  King.  Now, 
seeing  that  his  offer  of  leadership  was  refused, 
no  doubt  he  will  abuse  us  also  to  His  Majesty 
and  in  his  writings  yet  to  be. 

Brewster:  We  are  well  rid  of  him.  May  the 
Lord  have  mercy  upon  his  soul. 

Bradford:  Without  doubt,  Southampton 
will  be  chosen  to  the  place  so  long  and 
nobly  held  by  Sandys  in  the  London  Company. 
Though  not  so  wise  nor  constant,  he  is  as  true 
a  friend  of  freedom  as  Sir  Edwin.  Withal  it 


56  THE  BIRTH  OF  AMERICA 

is  said  he  is  to  be  elected  a  member  of  the 
Council  for  New  England. 

Brewster:  The  last  is  timely  news  and  well 
said. 

Standish:  We  have  tarried  all  too  long  on 
this  coast  without  decision  made.  There  are 
those  with  us  who  would,  as  they  say,  "take 
their  liberty";  since  we  appear  to  lack  authority 
in  New  England. 

Bradford:  Among  those  who  came  aboard 
at  old  Plymouth  are  some  not  altogether  tem 
pered  to  godliness.  They  were  at  the  last 
shuffled  in  upon  us.  Therefore,  let  us  act  at 
once,  and  action  here  is  as  good  as  action  yon 
der.  Great  enterprises  must  be  met  with  an 
swerable  courages.  By  your  instructions,  I  have 
prepared,  in  part,  a  compact  of  Government. 

Brewster:  This  is  a  rock-bound  coast  of 
weather-beaten  face,  and,  summer  being  done, 
all  things  now  present  a  wild  and  savage  hue. 
But  is  there  not  advantage  here?  'Tis  certain 
that  all  of  those  at  James  Towne  are  not  like 
Samuel  Sandys  of  Scrooby  Manor,  nor  Master 
Jefferson,  Sir  Edwin's  friend.  Some  would  not 
welcome  us  as  neighbors  there. 

Hopkins:  But  His  Majesty — 

Carver:  Albeit  the  King  caused  the  Dutch, 


THE  BIRTH  OF  AMERICA  57 

his  allies,  to  stop  our  printing  press  at  Leyden, 
His  Majesty  has  promised  the  London-Virginia 
Company  not  to  molest  us  in  America, — not 
withstanding  which,  if  there  should  afterwards 
be  a  purpose  to  wrong  us,  though  we  had  a  seal 
as  broad  as  the  house  floor,  there  would  be 
means  enough  found  to  recall  or  reverse  it.  We 
must  rest  herein  on  God's  Providence. 

Brews ter:  Let  us  hear  and  discuss  the  terms 
of  our  compact  of  government.  A  compact,  if 
wisely  made,  will  quiet  certain  discontents  and 
murmurings  which  arise  among  some  and  mutin 
ous  speeches  and  carriages  in  others.  Such  an 
act  by  us  done  might  be  as  firm  as  any  patent 
of  King  or  Company;  and,  in  some  respects, 
more  sure. 

Bradford:  Having  in  good  faith  clave  to 
gether  through  many  and  sore  trials,  we  may 
hope  to  win  the  good-will  of  all  by  a  just  and 
equal  carriage  in  matters  affecting  first,  our 
selves,  secondly,  the  strangers  shuffled  in  upon 
us,  and  thirdly,  the  naturals  in  yonder  wilder 
ness. 

( Takes  up  paper  from  off  the  table  and 

reads)  : 

Therefore,  let  us,  having  undertaken  for  the 
glory  of  God,  and  advancement  of  the  Christian 


58  THE  BIRTH  OF  AMERICA 

faith,  and  honor  of  our  King  and  Country,  a 
voyage  to  plant  the  first  colony  in  the  northern 
parts  of  Virginia,  do  covenent  and  combine  our 
selves  together  into  a  civil  body  politic,  for  our 
better  ordering  and  preservation  and  further 
ance  of  the  ends  aforesaid;  and  by  virtue 
hereof  to  enact,  constitute,  and  frame  such  just 
and  equal  laws,  ordinances,  acts,  constitutions, 
and  offices,  from  time  to  time,  as  shall  be 
thought  most  meet  and  covenient  for  the  gen-^ 
eral  good  of  the  Colony,  unto  which  we  promise 
all  due  submission  and  obedience. 

Hopkins:  Knowledge  of  the  charters  drawn 
up  for  the  signature  of  the  King  on  behalf  of 
our  plantations  in  South  Virginia  show  that  we 
should  have  both  beginning  and  end  of  our 
patent  phrased  in  the  legal  language  of  the 
Court. 

Bradford:  I  have  that  language  here.  We 
would  open  this  document  with  certain  formal 
words  which  do  always  encumber  the  themes  of 
the  doctors  in  the  law.  Thus:  "In  the  name  of 
God,  Amen.  We  whose  names  are  under  writ 
ten,  the  loyal  subjects  of  our  dread  sovereign 
Lord,  King  James,  by  the  grace  of  God,  of 
Great  Britain,  France,  and  Ireland  king,  de 
fender  of  the  faith,  etc."  The  closing  would 


THE  BIRTH  OF  AMERICA  59 

be  like  unto  the  beginning.  Thus :  "In  witness 
whereof  we  have  hereunder  subscribed  our 
names  at  Cap-Codd  the  1 1  of  November,  in 
the  year  of  the  reign  of  our  sovereign  lord, 
King  James,  of  England,  France,  and  Ireland 
the  eighteenth,  and  of  Scotland  the  fifty-fourth. 
Anno  Dom.  1620."  Are  we  now  prepared 
to  sign? 

(Assent  general} 

Brews ter:  And  if  we  do,  we  shall  prepare  to 
make  a  landing  on  the  morrow.  Captain  Stand- 
ish,  are  all  things  ready? 

Standish:  The  neighboring  coast  has  been  ex 
plored  for  many  miles  up  and  down  and  not  a 
few  inland.  We  shall  throw  out  guards  and 
make  our  debarkation  and  landing  sure. 

Bradford:  Captain  Standish,  send  for  the 
other  men  of  our  Company.  We  must  sign 
our  covenant  and  choose  our  leader  here. 

Brewster:  Let  us  give  all  due  diligence  to 
make  our  calling  and  election  sure;  for  if  we 
do  these  things,  we  shall  never  fail. 
(Others  file  in) 


CURTAIN 


60  THE  BIRTH  OF  AMERICA 

ACT  III 

SCENE  II 

(Tableau) 

Curtain  rises  upon  Pilgrims — men  and  wo 
men — grouped  as  in  famous  Pilgrim  picture. 
Door  of  cabin  open  (or  other  stage  effect  to 
give  idea  of  well-known  portrayal  of  historic 
landing}.  Chorus  in  background  singing  Pil 
grim  hymn. 

(A  chorus  should  sing  at  close  of  each 
act  songs  appropriate  to  the  time  and 
occasion.} 


